Oculobairdoppilata gen. nov. (Ostracoda, Bairdiidae): a new genus from the Paleocene of Tunisia

Abstract. A new marine ostracod genus, Oculobairdoppilata, belonging to the family Bairdiidae, is described from Paleocene deposits in Tunisia. Its main characteristic is the occurrence of an eye tubercle in the anterodorsal part of the valves. Internally, small denticles and corresponding sockets are present at the terminal parts of the dorsal edge of the right and left valves, respectively. It is the first bairdiid with an external eye structure to be described, although the existence of such a genus was predicted previously.