GENUS DIOTASCALPELLUM GEN. NOV.

FIGURES 2A, 6U–Y, 11Q–T, 13K–M, 18A–G

Type species

Scalpellum diota Hoek, 1907 .

Diagnosis

Scalpellines in which there is no specialized contact between the carina and carinolatus, merely a cresentic concavity on the interior of the plate that forms a rim slightly overlapping the upper latus; umbo of carinolatus upright, only slightly incurved, dorsal margin gently convex; inframedian surface of carinolatus well demarcated and slightly inset.

Derivation of name

In eponymous reference to the type species.

Included species

Scalpellum rubrum Hoek, 1883, Scalpellum indicum Hoek, 1883, Pollicipes angustatus Geinitz, 1843, Scalpellum gracile Bosquet, 1854, and Scalpellum fossula Darwin, 1851 .

Remarks

Cretaceous and extant species of Diotascalpellum gen. nov. have a very similar carinolatus morphology (e.g. Fig. 18A–G). The prevalence and diversity of species of Diotascalpellum in the Cretaceous supports its basal phylogenetic position. The earliest records are from the upper Albian ( D. angustatum; Withers, 1935).