Terebratula ampulla (Brocchi, 1814)

Dulai, Alfréd, 2016, Sporadic Pliocene and Pleistocene brachiopods in Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, the Netherlands): Records from the Mediterranean, and the North Sea Basin, Fragmenta Palaeontologica Hungarica 33, pp. 65-98 : 83-85

Terebratula ampulla (Brocchi, 1814)

( Figs 19–26, 27–34)

1983 Terebratula ampulla (Brocchi) – COOPER, Pl. 4, Figs 8–16.

2001 Terebratula ampulla (Brocchi) – BORGHI, pp. 51–52, Pl. 3, Figs 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, Pl. 4, Fig. 1.

2004 Terebratula ampulla (Brocchi) – GARCÍA RAMOS, pp. 21–23, Pl. 5, Figs 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, Pl. 6, Fig. 3, Pl. 7, Figs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9.

2008 Terebratula ampulla (Brocchi) – TADDEI RUGGIERO et al., p. 211, Figs 1 H-M.

Material – Valle Andona (1 complete specimen, 4 pedicle valves); Lugagnano (4 pedicle valves); San Nicomede (7 pedicle and 8 brachial valves); Ceriale (3 complete specimens, 9 pedicle and 9 brachial valves); Apricena (2 pedicle valves and 1 brachial valve).

Remarks – Terebratula and its type species T. terebratula were revised and discussed in detail by LEE et al. (2001). In this paper several species were synonymized with T. terebratula , however, the validity of T.ampulla as a medium-sized, strongly bisulcate species from the Pliocene was confirmed. TADDEI RUGGIERO et al. (2008) have accomplished a morphometric study on Late Cenozoic Terebratula from Italy, in which T. terebratula , T. ampulla , T. scillae and T. sinuosa were compared. According to their results, T.ampulla is distinct from T.scillae / T.terebratula in anterior view, because it is much more compressed dorsoventrally. In dorsal view T.ampulla is readily distinguished because of its pentagonal shape ( TADDEI RUGGIERO et al. 2008). T. ampulla is widespread in the Pliocene of the Mediterranean (e.g. BORGHI 2001; GARCÍA RAMOS 2004; TADDEI RUGGIERO et al. 2008). Some papers (e.g. BOSSELAERS et al. 2004) mentioned this species also from the Neogene of the North Sea Basin, but until now, these records have not been confirmed.

The beak area of several San Nicomede pedicle valves is strongly eroded and the foramen is significantly widened. In the case of Ceriale samples, all complete specimens are strongly compressed, the separated pedicle valves are intact but sometimes fragmentary. The middle part of the smallest complete specimen and edge of two pedicle valves show small-sized traces of predatory organisms. A small worm tube encrustation can be seen on the internal surface of a pedicle valve.