Publication Date:
2024-02-16
Description:
Potamidids (Potamididae, Batillariidae) are today typical inhabitants of coastal mudflats in tropical and warm
\ntemperate seas. From the Oligocene to the Early Pleistocene, the Eurasian Paratethys Sea harbored a striking
\ndiversity of mudwhelks as well. Based on occurrences from 466 localities covering an area of about 3 million km2
\nwe trace range expansions of potamidids from the Western Tethys and the Proto-Mediterranean Sea into the
\nEurasian Paratethys Sea, coinciding with global warming trends, such as the Miocene Climate Optimum, the
\nTortonian Thermal Maximum and the Mid-Pliocene Warm Period. For several species and genera, the stratigraphically oldest occurrences are documented from Rupelian localities south of the Paratethys, which indicates
\na northward migration over time. A hypothetical refuge along western Africa is hypothesized to explain the 9
\nMyr long gap between Oligocene and Sarmatian occurrences of Potamides in Europe. Highest potamidid diversities in the Central Paratethys coincided with the Miocene Climate Optimum. The second diversity peak is
\nobserved during the Sarmatian when the Volhynian flooding united the Central and Eastern Paratethys in a
\n\xe2\x80\x9cMega-Paratethys\xe2\x80\x9d. This event appears to have boosted potamidid diversity at least in the western part of the
\nParatethyan basin. About 25% of the species belong to Paratethyan lineages, which partly passed the Badenian/
\nSarmatian Extinction Event.
\nA close relation with mangrove environments is documented for Mesohalina, Ptychopotamides and Terebralia
\nand is assumed for Tiarapirenella. The retreat of mangroves from the Paratethys following the Miocene Climate
\nOptimum is reflected by the loss of large species. Latest Middle Miocene to Late Miocene (Sarmatian) potamidid
\nfaunas were dominated by species of Tiaracerithium and Potamides, which were adapted to mudflats devoid of
\nmangroves. Maeotian and Akchagylian potamidid faunas were low diverse, comparatively small and indicate two
\nlast phases of immigrations from the Mediterranean region. An influx from the Arctic region during the
\n\xe2\x80\x9cAkchagylian marine incursion\xe2\x80\x9d can be excluded as explanation for the exotic occurrence of Akchagylian
\npotamidids.
Keywords:
Potamididae
;
Batillariidae
;
Gastropoda
;
Miocene Climate Optimum
;
Biogeography
;
Mangroves
Repository Name:
National Museum of Natural History, Netherlands
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Format:
application/pdf
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