Vol. 92 (3) July 12,1978 THE NAUTILUS 97 QUATERNARY MARINE MOLLUSKS FROM TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS F. G. Talavera,1 Sigmund J. Kardas, .2Jr and Horace G. Richards ABSTRACT Seventy-six species of Gastropoda, 21 species of Bivalvia and one Cephalopod species are cited from the beach deposit at Tachero, near the eastern end of the north coast of Tenerife. Of these, J)6, 8, and 1 species, respectively, are new to the Quaternary marine fauna of the Canary Islands. Species of special biogeographic significance include Ostrea (Ostrea) edulis L., Nucella lapillus (L.), Planaxis lineatus da Costa and Pisania variegata (Gray). A Mellahian-Flandrian age (+ 2 m level) is established as an approximate chronology for the deposit. The discovery of this beach deposit containing THE TACHERO DEPOSIT an abundant marine fauna in a rather loosely The outcrop studied (Figs. 14 and 15) is sit­ consolidated limestone permits, for the first time, uated about 200 m to the west of the beach of a stratigraphic-palaeontologic study of the Tachero, in the north of the Anaga Peninsula marine Quaternary of the Island of Tenerife. (inset map, Fig. 16). The fossil-bearing stratum is Previous authors have referred to the existence of limited in lateral extent, the extremes of which Pleistocene raised beaches on the island, but no are covered by a great mass of talus deposits, mention of an associated fauna has been made. very abundant in this part of the island. Its ex­ Zeuner (1958) noted three Quaternary raised posure is due to strong wave cutting during some beach levels in Tenerife: heavy storms of 1973 and 1974, and may again, at Epimonastiran—La Roqueta, Punta del any time, be covered by the overlying detritus Hidalgo, Bajamar. during future periods of turbulent wave action. Lower Monastiran—San Juan de la Rambla, The following stratigraphie sequence is Punta del Hidalgo. observed (Fig. 16): Upper Monastiran—La Roqueta. A—a volcanic substratum containing numerous These divisions are based solely on altimetric wave-leveled dykes, constituting an ancient lit­ data, without reference to the fauna, suggesting toral platform. that the beaches were submerged somewhat lower than the normally established levels during the B—a mass of rolled lava pebbles, some of which middle of the last interglacial. are rubefacted, forming the base of the beach Bravo (1965), in his study of the modifications under study. Very little fauna is present, frag­ of the littoral zone due to Quaternary volcanic ef­ ments of Patella being the most conspicious com­ fusions, refers to the Quaternary terraces of Lan- ponents. zarote, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria, and the C—a thin faunal-rich gravel layer in which almost complete absence of raised shorelines in small mollusks are common. the westernmost Islands of Tenerife, Hierro, Go­ D—a semi-consolidated limestone stratum mera, and La Palma. Although Lecointre, Tinkler about 40 cm thick, formed largely by calcareous and Richards (1967) have investigated the marine algae (Melobesia), mollusks, coral, bryozoa and Quaternary of the Canary Islands, they make no echinoderm fragments. The volcanic pebble con­ mention of Tenerife or the other western islands. tent is poor, and increases toward the base. This layer stands out from the other components of 1 Museo Insular de Ciencias Naturales, Santa CruxT de Tenerife. the sequence due to its lighter color and greater 2 Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La compaction, thus forming a small terrace or step Laguna, Tenerife. in relief at its upper surface (Fig. 15). 98 THE NAUTILUS July 12,1978 Vol. 92 (3) Ostrea (Ostrea) edulis Linné (Fig. 9) This species was cited by Dollfus (1911) for the Quaternary of Senegal, where it reached its southernmost range during the Pleistocene. The Tachero specimens have a greater diameter than the latter, about 50 mm on the average. More or less rounded shape, presenting small sharp-angled undulations on the shell border. Some fragments exhibit the original rose-violet coloration. Its present-day distribution extends south to Cape Ghir, Morocco (Pallary, 1920), not being found liv­ ing in the Canary Archipelago. Nucella lapillus (Linné) (Fig. 4) The finding of this species is of special im­ portance because we think it has been confused FIGS. 1-13. Quaternary marine mollusks from the Tachero deposit, Tenerife, Canary Islands. 1,Mitra (Fuscomitra) cor­ nea Lamarck; 2, Urosalpinx fusulus (Brocchi); 3, Ocinebrina fusiformis (Gmelin); 4, Nucella lapillus (L.); 5-6, Pisania variegata (Gray); 7, Cymatium (Septa) trigonum Gmelin; 8, Erosaria (Ravitrona) spurca (L.); 9, Ostrea (Ostrea) edulis L.; 10, Pusula (Dolichupis) candidula (Gaskoin); 11, Acar (Acar) nodulosa (Müller); 12, Brachidontes puniceus (Gmelin); 13, Glycymeris (Glycymeris) bimaculata(Poli). E—a sandy layer containing very little fauna. F—a great mass of talus detritus superior to 50 m in height, covering all of this sequence except for the isolated zone exposed by wave action. PALAEONTOLOGY While the complete list of mollusks identified from the Pleistocene outcrop of Tachero is given FIG. 14 North coast o f Anaya, Tenerife. The arrow flower in Table 1, the following species are significant right) indicates the Tachero Pleistocene outcrop. (Photo: T. and deserve further note: Bravo, 1971). Vol. 92 (3) July 12,1978 THE NAUTILUS TABLE 1. Marine Mollusks from the Quaternary of Tachero (Tenerife) GASTROPODA (Osilinus trapped F. Nordsieck (Amphissa costulata (Cantraine) Ovatella micheli Mittre tBarleia rubra (J. Adams) Patella aspera Lamarck t Bela fuscata (Deshayesi Patella caerulea Linné (Bittium incile'Watson Patella candei Orbigny Bursa (Bufonariella) scrobiculator (Linné) Patella lowei Orbigny Calliostoma zizyphinum Linné (Patella ordinaria Mabille TCancellaria (Bivetiella) similis (Sowerby) Pisania variegata (Gray). (Figs. 5,6) (Pedipes afer (Gmelin) (Cancellaria (Bivetiella) cancellata (Linné) (Philippiapseudoperspectiva (Brocchi) Cassis sp. (Propilidium scabrosum (Jeffreys) tCerithium (Pithocerithium) strumaticum (Locard) Petaloconchus subcancellatus (Bivona) Clanculus bertheloti (Orbigny) (Petaloconchus vermicellus (Lamarck) (Conus (Lithoconus)papilionaceus Bruguiera (Planaxis lineatus (da Costa) t Conus guinaicus Hwass Pusula (Dolichupis) candidula (Gaskoin). (Fig. 10) Semicassis (Tylocassis) undulata (Gmelin) Conus sp. Strigatella zebrina (Orbigny) Columbella rustica (Linné) Spiroglyphus glomeratus (Bivona) tCoralliophila meyendorffi Calcara (Terebra lepida Hinds (Cymatium (Monoplex) costatum (Bom) Thais (Stramonita) haemastoma (Linné) (Cymatium (Septa) ficoides (Reeve) Thais (Stramonita) haemastoma var. (Cymatium problematicum Dautzenberg and Fischer Tricolia pulla (Linné) Cypraeacassis testiculus (Linné) (Triphora obesula Monterosato (Charonia variegata (Lamarck) (Truncatella subcylindrica (Linné) (Cheila equestris (Linné) f Urosalpinx fusulus (Brocchi). (Fig. 2) Diodora gibberula (Lamarck) (Zebina vitrea (Adams) Erosaria spurca (Linné) (Eulimella pointelli Folin Fissurella nubecula (Linné) BIVALVIA (Fossarus ambiguus (Linné) (Acar (Bentharca) obliqua (Philippi) (Gadinia garnoti (Payraudeaui tAcar (Acar) nodulosa Müller. (Fig. 11) (Gibberula coelata (Monterosatoi Arca afra Gmelin (Gibbula candei (Orbigny) Arca none Linne' tHaliotis (Sanhaliotis) coccinea Reeve Arcopsis (Galactella) lactea (Linné) (Hinia (Telasco) ferrussaci (Payraudeaui Latirus armatus A. Adams Barbatia sp. (Littorina (Melaraph) striata (King) Beguina (Mytilicardita) calyculata (Linne) Luria lurida (Linné) (Beguina (Glans) trapezia (Linné) (Manzonia crassa (Kanmacher) (Brachidontes puniceus Gmelin. (Fig. 12) (Codakia eburnea (Gmelin) sp. Chama (Chama) gryphina Lamarck (Mitra (Fuscomitra) cornea Lamarck Chlamys corallinoides (Orbigny) (Mitra (Fuscomitra) cornicula (Linné) (Donax (Hecuba) semistriatus Poli Glycymeris (Glycymeris) bimaculatus (Poli). (Fig. 13) Mitra sp. Lima (Radula) lima (Linné) (Mitrella suelta (Monterosatoi Kobelt (Lithophaga (Lithophaga) lithophaga (Linné) (Mitrella hidalgoi Monterosato (Lithophaga (Myoforceps) aristata (Dillwyn) (Mitrolumna crenipicta Dautzenberg Ostrea (Ostrea) edulis Linné. (Fig. 9) (Naticarius dilhvyni (Payraudeaui (Nitidella ocellata (Gmelin) Pseudochama sp. Nucella lapillus (Linné). (Fig. 4) Spondylus gaederopus Linné Ocinebrina edumrdsi (Payraudeaui Venus (Venus) verrucosa Linne (Ocinebrinafusiformis (Gmelin). (Fig. 3) t Opalia cf. pumilio MSrch (Osilinus atratus (Wood) CEPHALOPODA (Spirula spirula Linné (Î) Species new to the Quaternary marine fauna of the Canary Islands. This material has been deposited in the Museo Insular de Ciencias Naturales, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 100 THE NAUTILUS July 12,1978 Vol. 92 (3) with Thais (Acanthina) crassilabrum (Lamarck). (Nickies, 1950), and in the western Atlantic, from Recently Lecointre (1952), Lecointre, Tinkler and the lower Florida Keys and the West Indies, on Richards (1967) have recordedT. crassilabrum as rocks in the intertidal zone (Warmke and Abbott, being present in the Pleistocene of Morocco and 1962). the Canaries respectively, and they stress the fact Pisania variegata (Gray) that this species is found living now in the (Figs. 5 and 6) waters of Peru. We think that although it shows similarities with this species, it is simply a form This species is characteristic of the fauna of Nucella lapillus (L.), a species which is found associated with Strombus latus Gmelin (formerly today living in the waters of Europe, North S. bubonius Lamarck) in the Quaternary of the Africa and North America, but not in the Mediterranean.