Article: Late Cainozoic brachiopods from the coast of Namaqualand, South Africa

An unusual late Tertiary - early Quaternary brachiopod assemblage from shallow water shoreline deposits on the Namaqualand coastal plain of South Africa is described. New species described are Kraussina, rotundata, K. laevicostata, K. cuneata and Cancellothyris platys, with subspecies C. platys platys and C. platys petalos. In situ specimens, shell growth, abrasion and epizoans all indicate crowded living conditions, commonly on bedrock. Diversity, shell size and shell thickness are consistent with waters having been warmer than in the region today; Atlantic cooling took place from the late Tertiary.