B. M. Landau & L. T. Groves 
Cypraeidae from the early Miocene of northem Venezuela 
Although ascribed by various authors to the genus 
Macrocypraea, Cypraea trinitatensis belongs within 
the genus Trôna (see generic discussion above). 
Unfortunately the fossula is covered by matrix in the 
Schilder (1939) and Jung (1965) specimen from 
Carriacou, however, the shape of the dilated 
hemispherical expansion on anterior third ot the 
aperture and the absence of spines on the siphonal 
canal indicate they are also Trôna. Trôna trinitatensis 
differs from T. ingratni by its smallcr shell (at least in 
Cantaure, although the Trinidad and Carriacou shells 
are larger), more elongated cylindrical shape, much 
less sinuous and narrower aperture, and somewhat 
more crowded teeth on both labral and columellar 
sides. The re-illustration of the holotype of Cypraea 
fossula Ingram, 1947 (Figs 33-36) clearly show it to 
belong within the genus Trôna and not Luria as 
suggested by Dolin (1991) and Dolin & Lozouet 
(2004). The shell is slightly broader than our other two 
specimens of T. trinitatensis , but less inflated than T. 
ingrami, also the columellar density is slightly less 
than typical T. trinitatensis, but probably within the 
variability of this species. We therefore consider C. 
fossula a junior subjective synonym of T. trinitatensis. 
Geological and geographical distribution. 
Lower Miocene: Cantaure Formation, Venezuela; 
Tamana Formation, Trinidad. 
Middle Miocene: Grand Bay Formation of Carriacou. 
Subfamily EROSARIINAE Schilder, 1924 
Genus Propustularia Schilder, 1927 
Type species: Cypraea surinamensis Perry, 1811, by 
original désignation. 
Discussion. Schilder (1939) and Schilder & Schilder 
(1971) assigned a small group of tropical American 
cypraeids to the genus Pustularia Swainson, 1840 (ie., 
P. mejasensis, P. americana , P. caribaea ail Schilder, 
1939, and C. gurabonis Ingram, 1939). However, their 
shells do not conform to the generic characteristics of 
the Recent Indo-Pacific Pustularia species. The fossil 
taxa ail hâve shells with far less pronounced rostration 
of the extremities which do not carry the spines so 
characteristic of the Recent species. Lorenz (1999) 
also observed that the posterior extremity composed 
of a callus-accumulation and two marginal spines 
formed by the posterior terminal ridges, seen in the 
Recent species, is not found in any of the Caribbean 
fossil species assigned by Schilder & Schilder (1971) 
to Pustularia. The fossula is narrow and smooth in ail 
Recent Pustularia species, whereas it is denticulate in 
the Neogene Caribbean species. Most of this group of 
species share more shell characteristics with the genus 
Propustularia Schilder, 1927, which is today 
represented by a single taxon Propustularia 
surinamensis (Perry, 1811) found in the Caribbean. 
Propustularia is characterised by pyriform-inflated 
shells, with somewhat rostrate extremities, a weakly 
produced spire and fine teeth. Pustularia americana 
(holotype; Figs 147-150), on the other hand, shows the 
shell characteristics of the genus Erosaria Schilder, 
1924. Lorenz (1999) and Lorenz & Hubert (2000) 
synonymised Propustularia with Pi oadusta Sacco 
1894, and suggested Pustularia might hâve evolved 
from Proadusta- like forms. Propustularia 
longidentata n. sp. (herein) also shares some shell 
characteristics with the deep water Indo-Pacific and 
southeast African genus Nesiocypraea Azuma & 
Kurohara, 1967, particularly the species N. lisetae 
Kilbum, 1972. These characteristics include globular 
shape, distinctly curved aperture in the posterior third, 
denticulate fossula, and a callus bridge, in 
Nesiocypraea connecting both, labral and columellar 
teeth. In Nesiocypraea , how'ever, the teeth are short 
and do not extend onto the ventrum or outer lip. 
Meyer's (2004) molecular work on cypraeids placed 
the clade consisting of Propustularia, Nesiocypraea 
and Ipsa as basal to ail cowries. 
Propustularia longidentata n. sp. 
Text-figure 6; Figs 78-87 
Dimensions and type material. Holotype; NHMW 
2010/0036/0012, height 15.2 mm (Figs 78-81); 
paratype 1; NHMW 2010/0036/0013, height 14.5 mm 
(Figs 82-85); paratype 2; NHMW 2010/0036/0014, 
height 12.2 mm (Figs 86-87). 
Type locality. lower shell bed, 1 km Southwest of 
Casa Cantaure, about 10 km west of Pueblo Nuevo, 
Falcôn State, Venezuela (=locality GS12PGNA of 
Gibson-Smith & Gibson-Smith, 1979). 
Type stratum. Cantaure Formation (early Miocene: 
Burdigalian). 
Description. Shell small for genus, fragile, globular, 
posteriorly swollen, spire weakly projecting, covered 
by adapical callus, extremities moderately projecting; 
sides rounded, moderately callused, lip marginal 
callus sharply delimited and slightly raised; ventrum 
flattened, convex in profile; aperture narrow, edges 
parallel, conspicuously curved to the left in the 
posterior third; siphonal canal moderately long, 
externally barely margined; exhalant channel 
moderately produced, strongly bent adaxially, 
externally barely margined; terminal ridge well- 
developed, tooth-like at its inner extremity; fossula 
narrow, hardly delimited from the rest of the 
columella, bearing narrow elongated extensions of the 
labral teeth; teeth on both sides well developed, 21-22 
columellar teeth, anterior columellar teeth fused at the 
angulation, forming an elevated vertical callus bridge, 
mid-height the teeth weaken or subobsolete, again 
strongly developed in the posterior portion, teeth 
extending onto the ventrum especially in the anterior 
and posterior portions, inwards the teeth hardly extend 
onto the columella, columella smooth; 20-23 labral 
20 
