Pliocene marine Bivalvia of Vale do Freixo (Pombal, Portugal): updated taxonomic list and discussion

The exceptional Pliocene marine faunal assemblages of west central Portugal have been known since the late 19th century. They include highly diverse molluscan faunas whose study is far to be completed. Discovered nearly 40 years ago, Vale do Freixo (Carnide, Pombal) perhaps most outstanding fossil site. Neverthless, bivalves remain relatively unknown. This focuses on taxonomy this relevant group Mollusca. research, based a detailed sampling three fossiliferous beds from Carnide Formation, yielded list 85 species belonging 75 genera and 32 families. Forty-three are new for area twenty-three reported first time in Portuguese Pliocene, increasing 115 number Mondego Basin Beira Litoral.