Holoplanktonic gastropods from the Early Messinian of the Heraklion Basin (Crete, Greece)

The first finds of planktonic gastropods from the Messinian (Late Miocene) of the Aegean area are described. They originate from Early Messinian marls of the Heraklion Basin of Crete (Greece). Representatives of euthecosomatous pteropods [ Limacina sp., Bowdenatheca jamaicensis Collins, 1934, Diacria trispinosa (de Blainville, 1821) and Cavolinia gypsorum (Bellardi, 1873)] and of heteropods (Protatlanta sp., Atlanta sp. and Carinaria lamarcki Peron & Lesueur, 1810) have been identified. Material assigned to Carinaria and Bowdenatheca represents the first Messinian record of these genera. The occurrence of holoplanktonic gastropods indicates a normal marine salinity during the Early Messinian.