Upper Sinemurian and Lower to Middle Carixian monites from Lefterochori (Southern Albania). A reference for the eastern Mediterranean faunas.

The fossiliferous locality at Lefterochori close to Delvina (Est Saranda) ( Ionian area, southern Albania) yields a rich and well preserved fauna inclu ding latest Sinemurian and Lower to Middle Carixian ammonites. About fifty distinct forms are recognized and three new species described (Lytoceras pl atypleura, Tropidoceras sulcatum et Protogrammoceras ionicum). Taking in ac count the scarcity of previously available data about the Ionian Sinemurian and Carixian ammonites the new locality appears as a reference for the who le Hellenic ranges (Albania and Greece). If the major Dart of this Albanian fauna display clear affinities with those classically known in the Central Appenin and in Sicily (Italy) the number of new species is unexpected. Ind eed, during the lower Jurassic, the Ionian area was not very far from the I talian localities and the geological contexts were also rather close. Never theless Northern Gondwanian influences probably explain the surprising numb er of new ammonites. Besides, the latest Sinemurian age of the older Albani an taxa allow precise dating of the Tethyan rifting in this part of the Hel lenic ranges.