A new species of Andiceras Krantz (Cephalopoda: Ammonoidea) from the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous of the Neuquen Basin, Mendoza, Argentina. Systematics and Biostratigraphy

Abstract

A new ammonoid species of the Andean endemic genus Andiceras Krantz is here described from upper Tithonian-lower Berriasian levels of the Vaca Muerta and Chachao Formations of the Mendoza Group, in north-western Mendoza Province, Argentina. Andiceras planulatus sp. nov. lies between the last beds with representatives of the Substeueroceras koeneni Assemblage Zone of late Tithonian age and the first bed yielding elements of the Argentiniceras noduliferum Assemblage Zone of early Berriasian age, according to the traditional Andean ammonoid zonation scheme. The particular stratigraphic position of Andiceras planulatus together with its easily recognizable morphology makes this species a good potential biostratigraphic marker for the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary beds in the Andean region.