Paleoecología de la malacofauna de bivalvos del Mioceno superior de Cacela (SE Portugal)

Laburpena

The interest for the Iberian de Cacela fossil outcrop (SE Portugal) dating back to the mid-nineteenth century and was focused by the presence of a rich and diverse fauna, especially invertebrates, in an excellent state of preservation. In base on the study of bivalve malacofaune a total of 85 species and subspecies were identified. The paleoecologic analysis was done covering lithologic aspects, bivalve faune composition, bioerosion and presence of the other taxa, which give relevant data to complete this subject. The local environmental conditions suggested by the bivalve assembalge indicate the presence of a coastal environmental, with low to moderate hydrodynamic conditions, depths around 20 to 30 meters, salinity conditions similar to the present ones and tropical to subtropical thermal regime, with higher water temperatures than those observed presently at these latitudes.