Palaeoenviromental and palaeogeographical traits on deep-water ostracod assemblages from the Lower Pleistocene sediments along the Ionian side of Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy)

The ostracod associations of the Lower Pleistocene sedimentary succession cropping out at Serra San Biagio (Catania, Sicily NE) have been investigated. The ostracod fauna from nine samples is poorly diversified but well-preserved: A total of forty taxa of ostracods have been identified, thirty-three at specific level and seven at genus level or doubtful species. Thirty species are considered as constituents of the in situ original assemblages. The associations consist almost exclusively of bathyal taxa such as Bythocypris obtusata (Sars), Anchistrocheles antemacella Maddocks, Henryhowella ex H. hirta (Costa) group, Quasibuntonia radiatopora (Seguenza), Retibythere (Bathybythere) scaberrima (Brady) and Bathycythere vansraateni Sissingh. Also the Krithe group is well-represented with Krithe compressa (Seguenza) and K. pernoides (Bornemann). Almost all species, some, particularly interesting from the palaeoecological and palaeogeographical point of view, have been here described, illustrated and commented on, including a species belonging to the genus Cytherella Jones, 1849, found in all samples of the section, which is here proposed as new.