Occurrence of fossil and recent Microceratina Swanson 1980 (Ostracoda, Eucytherurinae) in the Mediterranean

The systematics and distribution of Microceratina Swanson 1980 are studied. Five species have been referred to this genus: Microceratina quaduata Swan son 1980 (type species), Microceratina foveolata (Colalongo and Pasini 1980 ) nov, comb., Microceratina poligonia (Colalongo and Pasini 1980), Microcer atina pseudoamfibola (Barbeito-Gonzalez 1971) nov, comb, and Microceratina reticulata (Bonaduce, Ciampo and Masoli 1975). With the exceptions of the t ype species, which have been found in littoral sediments in Southern New Ze aland and Southeastern Australia, and of M. poligonia, recovered in two sit es of the North Atlantic, the genus Microceratina seems to be mainly distri buted in the Mediterranean area, from the Tortonian to Recent.