Publication Date
5-25-1970
Series Number
145
Abstract
Five named species of the latest Cretaceous Inoceramus? tegulatus species group are, on present information, considered valid: two from North America, fibrosus (Meek and Hayden) and argenteus Conrad; three from Europe, tegulatus Hagenow, caucasicus Dobrov and dobrovi Jeletzky. The morphology of the ligament area and the pattern of muscle scars differentiate the species from Inoceramus, and Tenuipteria Stephenson is the valid generic name for the broad taxon encompassing the five species. The five species can be divided into two lineages: a lineage of equivalved species (tegulatus, fibrosus, caucasicus) and a lineage of inequivalved species (argenteus, dobrovi). The equivalved species occur in the uppermost Late Campanian, Early Maestrichtian and lowermost Late Maestrichtian, and the inequivalved species appear to be restricted to the Late Maestrichtian. Tenuipteria fibrosa and argentea are redescribed and illustrated, a neotype for argentea is designated, and a lectotype for T. tegulata is designated.