Article: Terebratulacea from the Cretaceous Shenley Limestone

The Lower Albian Shenley Limestone occurs very locally in Bedfordshire, England. The environment of deposition is discussed and it is shown that the rich brachiopod fauna is preserved as slightly disturbed life-assemblages. Terebratulacean hinge plates are shown to consist, in general, of two parts, here called 'primary' and 'secondary' hinge plates; hinge plate terminology is revised. A calcareous structure attached to the dorsal side of the brachidium is described for the first time and named the 'sub-loop skirt'. Systematic descriptions are given of four genera, six species, and two subspecies. Two genera are new: Boubeithyris and Walkerithyris. Four species and the two subspecies are new: B. buzzardensis, W. mendax, Rectithyris shenleyensis, R. shenleyensis heathensis, Platythyris diversa, and P. diversa rubicunda. The Shenley Limestone terebratulacean fauna is demonstrated to be in many respects transitional between the Aptian and Cenomanian faunas.