Mesozoic Bivalvia Fossils from Northwest Australian Continental Slope

Northwest Australian continental slope rock samples contain macrofaunas, mainly bivalves, from warm shallow-water origins. The dataset includes four sets of samples from Mermaid and Clerke Canyons, collected in water depths of 3625-4480 meters. It was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network and last updated on 2026-06 23.

Use Cases

• Taxonomic classification of bivalve species based on described specimens like Pseudopecten dugong.
• Biogeographic analysis of Tethyan relationships based on described faunal assemblages.
• Stratigraphic dating of rock formations based on described Early Jurassic and Norian-Rhaetian age indicators.
• Paleoenvironmental reconstruction based on described oolitic calcarenite and coral assemblages.

Strengths

• Samples from specific geographic coordinates: Mermaid Canyon (16° 19'S, 118° 23'E) and Clerke Canyon (16° 29'S, 118° 30'E).
• Includes described new species and assemblages, such as Pseudopecten (Pseudopecten) dugong n.sp.
• Provides depth range for sample collection: 3625-4480 meters.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Rock samples collected from the northwest Australian continental slope.

Time Range

Mesozoic era, specifically Early Jurassic and Norian-Rhaetian periods.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 05:00:20.022773; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Clerke and Mermaid Canyons, northwest Australian continental slope.