MIDDLE TRIASSIC ECHINODERMS FROM THE SAN SALVATORE FORMATION OF LOMBARDY (ITALY) AND CANTON TICINO (SWITZERLAND)

An echinoderm fauna from the San Salvatore Formation (Middle Triassic, Southern Alps) is here de-scribed in detail for the first time. Identifiable crinoids and echinoids were collected from three different localities: Mt. San Salvatore (Ticino, Switzerland), Rasa di Varese and San Michele (Lombardy, Italy). Crinoid taxa include Encrinus cf. aculeatus, Holocrinus sp. indet., Zardinicrinus cf. granulosus, Encrinidae gen. et sp. indet. Echinoid taxa include Cidaris cf. roemeri, Serpianotiaris sp. indet., Triadocidaris transversa, Triadocidaris sp. indet., and an indetermined form (Cidaridae). Most of the material was collected from Rasa di Varese, along with a rich upper Anisian ammonoid and conodont fauna, belonging to the upper Reitzi Zone and the Secedensis Zone. Migration of crinoids have been documented during the upper Anisian (from upper Pelsonian to lower Illyrian), mainly from the westernmost Tethyan Realm northward to the Germanic basin. Crinoid taxa already reported in the lower and upper Illyrian of the Germanic basin have also been collected, dated here to the late Illyrian (upper Reitzi Z.-Secedensis Z.) suggesting that several taxa migrated southwards in the Tethys realm during the late Illyrian.

Automated summary

For the first time, this article provides a detailed description of an echinoderm fauna from the Middle Triassic San Salvatore Formation in the Southern Alps. Crinoids and echinoids were found in three different localities, including Switzerland and Italy. The migration of crinoids during the Upper Anisian period from the Tethyan Realm to the Germanic basin is documented. Additionally, crinoid taxa collected from the Germanic basin during the Lower and Upper Illyrian periods have been identified in this study, indicating southward migration during the late Illyrian in the Tethys realm.