Bernaya sp.

BERNAYA sp.

Figs. 5J–L

Hypotype— LACMIP 7047.72, LACMIP Type 14923 (Figs. 5J–L), length 33.8 mm, width 23 mm, height 18.3 mm.

Occurrence— LACMIP Locality 7047 [ex CIT Locality 868], Lower Lake area, Lake County, northern California, “Martinez Formation” strata containing Turritella infragranulata Gabb, 1864, in the Herndon Creek, Lower Lake, Lake County, northern California (Stanton 1896). Saul (1983: p. 102) confirmed Stanton’s (1896) report of this turritellid and assigned it to the Thanetian Stage.

Remarks —This gastropod is represented by a single specimen, which has moderate preservation. It is similar to the only known specimen of Bernaya squiresi Groves, 2011 from the Crescent Formation (middle lower Eocene “Capay Stage”). Both specimens have similar shell shape, a small exposed spire, numerous strong teeth on the apertural lips, and are poorly preserved in the critically important anterior end. Three additional specimens of the Lower Lake taxon (LACMIP 7047.73), all from LACMIP Locality 7047 in the Lower Lake area, are likely the same genus but their preservation is too poor for confirmation. A single specimen from the Santa Susana Formation, Simi Valley, Ventura County, southern California (LACMIP 12481.1, LACMIP Type 14924) (LACMIP Locality 12481) may also be the same genus but is also too poorly preserved to make a positive identification.