El género Ficus en el Mioceno de Chile Central, con descripción de F. gayana sp. nov. (Gastropoda; Ficidae)

Abstract

Present paper reports the results of a revision on genus Ficus Röding, 1798 species (Gastropoda: Ficidae) coming from Philippi's collection (1887) and from recent foundings done in the Navidad area, Central Coast of Chile (33° 50'-34° 05' S). From this study it is possible to conclude that only two species, F. distans (Sowerby, 1846) and F. gayana sp. nov., are present at the base of Navidad Formation. From further analysis and discussion it appears that F. carolina (d'Orbigny) can not be assigned to this formation and that it would be restricted to the Tertiary of the Chilean-Argentine Patagonia. The presence of Ficus during the Lower to Middle Miocene of Central Chile allows to suggest subtropical conditions for the shallow-water marine fauna of the Southeastern Pacific, at this latitude. A listing of all fauna associated to F. distans and F. gayana sp. nov. and further descriptions and illustrations of Philippi's (1887) specimens are given.