THE GENUS FORTUNELLA (BRACHIOPODA, RHYNCHONELLIDA) AND ITS RELATED SPECIES IN THE UPPER JURASSIC AND LOWER CRETACEOUS

The following brachiopod species were assigned to the rhynchonellid genus Fortunella CALZADA 1985 (type species Fortunella fortunae from the Hauterivian of South-East-Spain): F. monsalvensis (GILLIERON), F. fastigata (GILLIERON), both from the Oxfordian of the Swiss Prealps of Fribourg; F. makridini (TCHOUMATCHENCO) from the Oxfordian of the Russian Platform and from Algeria: F. praemoutoniana sp. n. from the Lower Cretaceous of the Swiss Prealps of Vaud; F. moutoniana (D'ORBIGNY) from the Barremian of South-East-France; F. acutifrons (SULSER & FOLLMI) from the Aptian of Vorarlberg (Austria). The species of Fortunella, similar to the genus Lacunosella in their internal structure, differ from the latter by their much reduced costate or complete smooth shells. The habitat of Fortunella seems to be confined to fine-grained sediments in a deeper water environment. According to the present knowledge the stratigraphical range of the genus is from the Lower Oxfordian to the Upper Aptian. It covers a geographical area, comprehending South-East-Spain, the Alps, the Russian Platform and Algeria. Ten further nominal species with unknown internal morphology are included in Fortunella tentatively.