Calcareous nannofossil assemblages from the Brendola section (Priabonian stage stratotype area, northern Italy)

Calcareous nannofossils from the Brendola section permit recognition of the NP 19–20 zone. The calcareous nannofossil assemblages of this area indicate an inner shelf marine environment and the scarcity of discoasters and sphenoliths during late Priabonian time in this area is attributed to the very shallow nature of the association and not to the temperature dependence of this group. Systematic details concerningOrthozygus aureus and its relations withHolodiscolithus macroporus, Clathrolithus minutus andZygolithus fiscus are given.