First report of the Eocene bivalve Schedocardia (Mollusca, Cardiidae) from Cuba

Abstract

Herein we provide the first report of the cardiid bivalve Schedocardia from Cuba. The single, partial, valve external mold was derived from the Madruga Formation which is characterized by a richly diverse marine fauna including echinoderms, brachiopods, benthic and planktonic foraminiferans, but from which bivalves were not previously reported. The unit is considered late Paleocene in age (Thanetian), but the presence of Schedocardia supports a possible age extension of the formation into the early Eocene (Ypresian). Moreover, we provide a reconsideration of the historical factors that affected the accepted type locality of the outcrop, which allows for an alternative interpretation of the fauna found therein. RESUMENSe reporta por primera vez el genero bivalvo Schedocardia de la Formacion Madruga, para el registro fosil de Cuba. De esta formacion se ha reportado una rica fauna de invertebrados incluyendo equinodermos, braquiopodos y, especialmente de foraminiferos, pero no moluscos bivalvos. Se ha considerado que la Formacion Madruga se deposito durante el Paleoceno tardio (Thanetiano), no obstante, la presencia de Schedocardia apoya la extension de edad de la formacion hasta el Eoceno temprano (Ypresiano). Ademas, se consideran factores antropogenicos que han afectado la localidad tipo de la formacion.