Les Pseudoperisphinctinae (Ammonitina, Perisphinctidae) de l'horizon à Leckenbyi (Callovien supérieur, zone à Athleta) de Montreuil-Bellay (Maine-et-Loire, France) et description d'une nouvelle espèce, Choffatia isabellae [Pseudoperisphinctinae (Ammonitina, Perisphinctidae) from the Leckenbyi horizon (Upper Callovian, Athleta zone) of Montreuil-Bellay (Maine-et-Loire, France) and description of a new species, Choffatia isabellae]

Pseudoperisphinctinae (Ammonitina, Perisphinctidae) from the Leckenbyi horizon (Upper Callovian, Athleta zone) of Montreuil-Bellay (Maine-et-Loire, France) and description of a new species, Choffatia isabellae.- Many outcrops exposing the Mid-Callovian/Upper Callovian boundary have been found near Montreuil-Bellay (Maine-et-Loire). The lowermost bed of the Upper Callovian has been dated as the Leckenbyi horizon. It contains an abundant ammonite fauna (3125 specimens), in which Perisphinctidae make up just over half of the specimens. In company with reasonably well-known species such as Pseudopeltoceras leckenbyi (Bean), Orionoides pseudorion (Waagen), Subgrossouvria famulum (Bean) and S. crassa Gérard et Contaut, occurs a species, previously unknown, which is described in this article. Choffatia isabellae n. sp. differs markedly from contemporary Perisphinctidae, for it is distinguished by : 1) a long, smooth juvenile stage, 2) weakly developed ribbing, 3) the absence of parabolic ornamentation and 4) a high frequency of constrictions. As this species is unknown in the fauna of the uppermost Middle Callovian, along with many other species, including Peltoceras marysae Bonnot et alii, it must have colonised the northwestern part of the European platform via the southern margin of the Tethys during the transgressive interval which started at the beginning of the Late Callovian. This new species appears abruptly at the base of the Leckenbyi horizon, reaches its acme in the middle of the horizon, where it probably represents half of the Perisphinctidae, before becoming rare in the upper part of the horizon, then very rare in the Athleta horizon.