Goniocamax christenseni n. sp. (Belemnitida, Belemnitellidae) - a new belemnite from Upper Cretaceous of Russia

Abstract

A new species of Goniocamax Naidin: Goniocamax christenseni n. sp. is described from the Upper Turonian and the lowermost Coniacian strata of the Volga river region in Russia. The new species occur together with primitive species of Goniocamax i.e.

Goniocamax intermedius (Arkhangelsky) and G. surensis (Naidin), which suggests that two parallel evolutionary lineages in Goniocamax. This species is considered to be the earliest ancestor ot Belemnitella stock.

Phylogeny and palaeobiogeography of the Late Turonian belemnitellids (genera Praeactinocamax Naidin and Goniocamax Naidin)are discussed.

Keywords

• Belemnites
• new species of genus Goniocamax
• Upper Cretaceous
• Central Russia
• taxonomy
• palaeobiogeography