B. M. Landau & L. T. Groves 
Cypraeidae from the early Miocene of northem Venezuela 
twisted appearance, constricted between the groove 
between the anterior terminal and first columellar 
tooth on the ventral side and the indented margination 
on the dorsum. This feature is not seen in Z. 
spurcoides. The fossula is also flatter in Z. 
pseudotumulus. 
Etymology. Named reflecting similarity to Cypraea 
tumulus from the early Miocene Chipola Formation of 
Florida. 
Geological and geographical distribution. 
Lower Miocene: Cantaure Formation, Venezuela. 
Subfamily PSEUDOZONARIINAE 
Genus Pseudozonaria Schilder, 1927. 
Type species Cypraea arabicu/a Lamarck, 1810, 
original désignation. 
The “ Pseudozonaria ” group is characterised by its 
elongate-oval shells with well developed, often sharp 
eut teeth, densely spotted margins and freckled 
dorsum and prominent extremities. Today the group is 
represented by five tropical American Pacific species; 
P. aequinoctialis (Schilder, 1931), P. annettae (Dali, 
1909), P. arabicula (Lamarck, 1810), P. nigropuctata 
(Gray, 1828), and P. robertsi (Hidalgo, 1906) (Lorenz 
& Hubert, 2000; Meyer, 2003, 2004). Several fossil 
species belonging to Zonaria Jousseaume, 1884 and 
Pseudozonaria Schilder, 1927 hâve been described 
from the Gatunian Neogene. Zonaria and 
Pseudozonaria are closely related groups, and not ail 
cypraeid specialists are in agreement as to their rank 
or which species belong in which of the two groups. 
Groves (1997) considered Pseudozonaria a subgenus 
of Zonaria ; Lorenz & Hubert (2000) use 
“Pseudozonaria ” as an informai group within 
Zonaria , and Landau & Silva (2010) considered both 
valid généra. 
Lôpez Soriano (2006) justified the séparation of a 
new subfamily Pseudozonariinae from the Zonariinae 
Schilder, 1932 based on molecular data (Meyer, 
2004), anatomical différences of the mande and 
papillae, and some small différences in shell 
morphology. They also hâve distinct geographical 
distributions; Pseudozonariinae are tropical American, 
today restricted to the western side of Central 
America; Zonariinae are known since the Miocene in 
Europe and Recent of West Africa (Lorenz & Hubert, 
2000 ). 
Pseudozonaria praeaequinoctialis n. sp. 
Text-figure 10; Figs 100-103 
Dimensions and type material. Holotype; NHMW 
2010/0036/0019, height 32.3 mm (Figs 100-103). 
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 of medium size and thickness for 
genus, inflated pyriform, posteriorly swollen, in latéral 
profile dorsal curvature regularly attenuated 
abapically, spire weakly projecting, covered by 
adapical callus; sides rounded, moderately callused; 
ventrum flattened, convex in profile; aperture 
relatively wide and straight, posteriorly curving to the 
left, anterior portion much wider; siphonal canal 
narrow, abaxially asymmetrical; exhalant channel 
hardly produced, limited by parallel lips; Columella 
denticulate along entire length, bearing 19 sharp, 
narrow denticles, which extend as folds onto the 
columella peristome within the aperture, but not onto 
the ventrum with the exception of the three adapical 
denticles, which extend a short distance over the 
angulation onto the ventrum; terminal fold marginal, 
bordering the siphonal canal, where it is strengthened 
and keel-like, separated from the columellar teeth by a 
deep groove; fossula small, weakly concave, very 
steep, poorly delimited from the rest of the columella, 
bearing ridges which do not extend to the smooth 
inner edge; 20 very short, sharp labial teeth, 
developed at the inner edge, but not extending onto 
the labrum; labrurn moderately thickened in the 
médial portion. A suggestion of a spotted marginal 
colour pattern and dorsal banding is preserved, this 
pattern enhanced under UV light. 
Shell Formula. 32.3 (65.9 - 51.3) 18: 18 
Figures 112-127 
112-115. Pseudozonariaprimarobertsi n. sp. Paratype 3 NMB H18359 (NMB coll.), length 28.9 mm. lower 
shell bed, 1 km Southwest of Casa Cantaure, about 10 km west of Pueblo Nuevo, Paraguanâ Peninsula, Falcôn 
State, Venezuela; 116-119. Pseudozonaria primarobertsi n. sp. Paratype 6 NMB H18366 (NMB coll.), length 
-4.8 mm. lowei shell bed, 1 km Southwest of Casa Cantaure, about 10 km west of Pueblo Nuevo, Paraguanâ 
Peninsula, Falcôn State, Venezuela; 120-123. Pseudozonaria primarobertsi n. sp. Paratype 5 NMB H18363 
(NMB coll.), length 25.3 mm. lower shell bed, 1 km Southwest of Casa Cantaure, about 10 km west of Pueblo 
mP eninsula, Falcôn State, Venezuela; 124-127. Pseudozonariafalconensis n. sp. Holotype 
^8 (NMB coll.), length 16.5 mm. lower shell bed, 1 km Southwest of Casa Cantaure, about 10 km 
west ot Pueblo Nuevo, Paraguanâ Peninsula, Falcôn, State Venezuela. 
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