Ostracods associated with deep water coral colonies in the Pleistocene of Scoppo (Messina, NE Sicily) and description of two new species

Ostracod assemblages associated with deep-water corals from the Pleistocene (early Calabrian - MNN19b and 19c biozones) sedimentary succession cropping out along the Scoppo hill (Messina, Sicily) have been studied. Thirty-five taxa were recognized in the samples examined. The association mainly consisted of Pseudocythere caudata Sars, 1866, followed by Macrocyprina succinea (Müller, 1894), Bythocypris obtusata (Sars, 1866), B. bosquetiana (Brady, 1866), Paradoxostoma simile Müller, 1894 and Sclerochilus contortus (Norman, 1862). It has been attributed to a palaeoenvironment located within the deeper horizons of the Circalittoral Zone and higher horizons of the Bathyal Zone. The presence and abundance of shallow water phytal taxa of the genera Paradoxostoma, Paracytherois and Sclerochilus has been explained by the capability of these organisms to extend towards deep environments in the presence of food resources availability. In the Scoppo palaeoenvironment food was presumably provided by organic matter produced by deep coral colonies, as observed for comparable communities in North Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and off Santa Maria di Leuca in the Mediterranean. Some particularly significant species are illustrated, and two species, i.e., Bythocythere agostinae n.sp. and Microxestoleberis scillae n. sp. are describe