On the discovery of Menuites (Menuites) fresvillensis (Seunes, 1890) (Ammonoidea, Pachydiscidae Spath) from the Maastrichtian deposits of the South-Western Crimea

In the talus of Mount Beshkosh near the city of Bakhchisarai, the zonal index species of the Upper Maastrichtian ammonite Menuites (Menuites) fresvillensis (Seunes) was found for the first time in Southwestern Crimea. This find allows us to refine the biostratigraphic scheme of the Maastrichtian deposits of Crimea and expand our understanding of the geographical distribution of this ammonite. The relatively poor assemblage of calcareous nannoplankton extracted from a rock chip from the ammonite indicates a possible origin of the find from Member XXII of the upper Maastrichtian.