Kelliella ruggierii, a new deep-sea bivalve from the Mediterranean Pliocene

A new species of Kelliella (Bivalvia, Veneroida) from the Po Basin Pliocene is described. Due to the paleobathymetric range of the fossil assemblages associated with this small bivalve, Kelliella ruggierii sp. nov. seems to be exclusive of the deepest Pliocene mud-bottoms from the Po Basin. Moreover, this species shows remarkable affinities with some bathyal and abyssal living Kelliellidae from Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.