Skelton, P. W. 2013. Rudist classification for the revised Bivalvia volumes of the ‘Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology.’ Caribbean Journal of Earth Science, volume 45, 9-33. © Geological Society of Jamaica. Available online 12th March 2013. Rudist classification for the revised Bivalvia volumes of the ‘Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology’ PETER W. SKELTON Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK (
[email protected]) ABSTRACT. An updated phylogenetic classification of rudist bivalves is proposed for the revised Bivalvia volumes of the ‘Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology’. Already formalised as Order Hippuritida Newell, rudists are divided between two new monophyletic suborders established herein, Requieniidina, comprising all taxa attached by the left valve, and Radiolitidina, encompassing all those attached by the right valve. The Requieniidina contains one superfamily, Requienioidea Kutassy, consisting of a small paraphyletic family, Epidiceratidae Renngarten, and a larger derivative family, Requieniidae Kutassy. The Radiolitidina contains two superfamilies re-defined herein, Radiolitoidea d’Orbigny and Caprinoidea d’Orbigny. The paraphyletic Radiolitoidea includes a small basal family, Diceratidae Dall, together with a major clade that encompasses the paraphyletic Monopleuridae Munier Chalmas and a large descendent family, Radiolitidae d’Orbigny, as well as a smaller descendent family, Polyconitidae Mac Gillavry, which, in turn, is considered the root stock for the families Plagioptychidae Douvillé, Hippuritidae Gray, Caprotinidae Gray, Caprinulidae Yanin, and Trechmannellidae Cox. The monophyletic Caprinoidea d’Orbigny, comprises the monophyletic Family Caprinidae d’Orbigny and paraphyletic Family Caprinuloideidae Damestoy, from which probably arose both the families Ichthyosarcolitidae Douvillé and Antillocaprinidae Mac Gillavry. This classification covers at least 158 genera (including a few currently being described), leaving 8 poorly known genera as incertae sedis.