Espèces pléistocènes de la famille Darwinulidae Brady et Norman, 1889 (Ostracodes), en Algarve, sud Portugal

Continental deposits of Pleistocene age from Boliqueime (Algarve, South Portugal) have yielded many Darwinulidae specimens, belonging to five species. They are associated with other limnic ostracodes, mainly juveniles of Candonidae, Ilyocyprididae, Limnocytheridae, Cyprididae and Cypridopsidae. Some charophytes, small gastropods, and remains of carbonate rhizocretions also occur. This faunal assemblage points to a fluvial or alluvial palustrine palaeoenvironment, of fresh to slightly salty water, under warm subtropical climate. The taxonomy, variability and geographical distribution of the Quaternary Darwinulidae have been the subject of recent papers (Martens et al., 1997; Rossetti and Martens, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002; Pinto et al., 2003, 2004), which contributed to the description of new genera and species, among which Vestalenula and Penthesilenula. The latter genera have a worldwide distribution, but most of their species have restricted distributions. The discovery of Vestalenula cylindrica, Vestalenula pagliolii, Vestalenula cf. sp. B and Penthesilenula brasiliensis in Portugal allows a more precise determination of their distribution and age in Europe.