BATHYAL OSTRACODS FROM THE UPPER PLEISTOCENE OF THE RIO GRANDE CONE, PELOTAS BASIN, BRAZIL

Abstract Quaternary deep-sea ostracods supply invaluable data for the understanding of both hydrological and sedimentary processes in the continental slope. A huge portion of western South Atlantic bathyal regions is still poorly explored with respect to deep-sea ostracod research. This article contributes to the study of the assemblage ostracod of the Upper Pleistocene of five piston cores recovered in the Cone of Rio Grande, Pelotas Basin, Brazil. Taxonomic analysis revealed 21 species belonging to 13 genera: Cytherella, Macropyxis, Argilloecia, Paracytherois, Cytheropteron, Rimacytheropteron, Eucytherura, Loxoconchidea, Xestoleberis, Apatihowella, Henryhowella, Poseidonamicus and Krithe. The assemblages are quite similar to those registered in southwestern Brazilian bathyal regions. A taxon left in open nomenclature is probably a new genus and species. Eucytherura fossapunctata nov. sp. is here described.