New records of the echinoid Clypeaster from the Upper Eocene-Lower Oligocene Damují Formation in Rodas, south-central Cuba

Abstract

This study examines Clypeaster echinoid fossils from the Damují Formation, dating from the late Eocene-early Oligocene, in Rodas, south-central Cuba. The research aims to contribute to the understanding of the paleoecology and biogeography of echinoids during the latest Eocene in the Caribbean region. While previous investigations have largely focused on Clypeaster species from the Oligocene and Miocene, the specimens examined here are crucial for elucidating the early phases of echinoid evolution and geographical distribution. Our analysis of the Damují Formation’s geological context and fossil content uncovered a diverse marine ecosystem comprising large foraminifera, corals, small, isolated fish teeth, and Clypeaster sand-dollar fossils. These findings broaden the established temporal and spatial distribution of Clypeaster, indicating a varied reef environment in the central Caribbean during the late Eocene-early Oligocene. The occurrence of these fossils in the Damují Formation enhances our understanding of palaeogeographical patterns, with implications for Clypeaster diversity and evolution.