RT Journal Article T1 Archaeoradiolites, a new genus from the Upper Aptian of the Mediterranean Region and the origin of the Rudist Family Radiolitidae A1 Fenerci Masse, Mukerrem A1 Masse, Jean Pierre A1 Arias, Consuelo A1 Vilas Minondo, Lorenzo AB Archaeoradiolites gen. nov. (Radiolitidae), mainlycharacterized by radially arranged branching walls structuringthe outer shell layer, includes two species, Archaeoradiolitesprimitivus gen. et sp. nov. and Archaeoradioliteshispanicus gen. et sp. nov. (type species), the distinction ofwhich is based on size, shell habit and development of theradially branching microstructure. Their geographical distributionis restricted to south-east Spain and south-westFrance, i.e. the Western European Tethyan margin, whereasdata from the Black Sea coast of Turkey suggest a possibleextension to the Eastern European Tethyan margin. Eachspecies has a distinct biostratigraphic distribution withinthe Upper Aptian (mainly the Gargasian). Agriopleura issuggested to be the direct ancestor of Archaeoradiolites,which in turn is considered as the progenitor of Eoradiolites.The onset of the Radiolitidae is associated with globaloceanic changes that favoured calcite as opposed to aragonitebiomineralization. The acquisition of a porous shellmicrostructure appears, in many respects, biologicallyadvantageous and may account for gaining a rapid(< 1 myr) ecological ability for efficient colonization andoccupation of space of the family in the earlier phase of itsradiation. PB Blackwell Publishing Ltd SN 0031-0239 YR 2006 FD 2006 LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/51209 UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/51209 LA eng DS Docta Complutense RD 10 abr 2025