Recent scientific research has unveiled the existence of a newfound species of an extinct land snail named Ferussina, marking a significant discovery in the world of paleontology.
This extraordinary specimen was discovered in Hațeg Basin, Romania, offering a glimpse into a bygone era some 72 million years ago during the Maastrichtian age within the Late Cretaceous epoch.
“This new species stands as the eldest and farthest eastward representative within its genus,” remarked Dr. Páll-Gergely, as reported by Sci News. The dimensions of its shell measured approximately 10.8 mm in diameter and 4.4 mm in height, boasting a distinct structure characterized by a depressed shape, flat base, domed dorsal surface, and a rounded or subtly shouldered body whorl, as described by the palaeontologist.
Remarkably, this unique species is known solely from a solitary specimen discovered within the Densuș-Ciula Formation in Romania, a testament to its rarity and exclusivity within the geological records of the area. Colleagues of Dr. Barna emphasized the significance of this region in western Romania, renowned predominantly for its fossil vertebrate fauna, encompassing dwarf dinosaurs that were initially documented over a century ago, alongside sporadic invertebrates and plant fossils.
The unearthing of this new snail species significantly contributes to the limited roster of European taxa believed to have survived the catastrophic end-Cretaceous mass extinction event. Furthermore, researchers highlighted the profound implications of Ferussina’s presence in Maastrichtian-aged layers, extending the genus’s chronostratigraphic range by approximately 23 million years.
In a comprehensive study published in the journal Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, the authors emphasized the paramount importance of this discovery. The extended chronostratigraphic range of Ferussina and its parent subfamily, Ferussininae, traversing the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary aligns with one of the most cataclysmic mass extinctions in the Phanerozoic era, marking a pivotal moment in the evolutionary timeline of these enigmatic land snails.