New species of Peregrinella (Brachiopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of theGargano Promontory (southern Italy)

Two new Peregrinella species (P. garganica and P, fascicostellata) from the Lower Cretaceous Maiolica Formation of the Gargano Promontory (southern It aly) are proposed. The shells are allochthonous and occur in densely packed , gravity-displaced accumulations that are intercalated within pelagic sedi ments. Preliminary data on the palaeoecology and palaeoenvironment of the P eregrinella beds confirm the suggestion that these brachiopods were the dom inant component of cold-seep assemblages. The occurrence of 'Rhynchonella' peregrina (Buch) [junior synonym of Peregrinella multicarinata (Lamarck)], cited in the past literature on the area investigated, located NW of Mattin ata, is not confirmed. The specimens collected present several features whi ch are different from Lamarck's species: the majority of them have a more c onvex shell, alae clearly separated from the lateral regions, and large del tidial plates. These specimens are here classified as P. garganica sp. nov. Other specimens, all collected from a single exposure, are characterized b y having several orders of ribs forming a fascicostellate ornamentation, pa rticularly accentuated in the central part of the valve; they are attribute d to P. fascicostellata sp. nov. (C) 1999 Academic Press.