First record of a middle Cenomanian caprinuloideid rudist (Hippuritida, Bivalvia) from Montana, USA, and its geographical and stratigraphical significance

The new caprinoidean rudist bivalve Cobbanicaprina bighornensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from the upper middle Cenomanian of Big Horn County, Montana, USA. Cobbanicaprina gen. nov. is closely related to Mexicaprina and differs from that form in the absence of an external ligamental groove. The presence of Cobbanicaprina gen. nov. in the middle Cenomanian indicates that the Caprinuloideidae did not become extinct at the top of the Albian and persisted into the Cenomanian. The presence of this specimen so far north in the Western Interior Seaway is attributed to a dried-out individual specimen having been transported post-mortem by currents.