{{Short description|Extinct genus of bivalves}} {{Speciesbox | fossil_range = Caradoc {{Fossil range|460.9|449.7}} | genus = Villicumia | species = canteraensis | authority = Sánchez, 1999 }}
'''''Villicumia''''' is an extinct genus of bivalve in the extinct family Praenuculidae. The genus is one of eleven genera in the subfamily Praenuculinae. It is one of three Praenuculinae genera known solely from late Ordovician, Caradoc epoch, fossils found in South America. ''Villicumia'' currently contains a single accepted species, '''''Villicumia canteraensis'''''.<ref name="Sánchez1999">{{cite journal |last1=Sánchez |first1=T.M. |year=1999 |title=New Late Ordovician (Early Caradoc) Bivalves from the Sierra de Villicum (Argentine Precordillera) |journal=Journal of Paleontology |volume=73 |issue=1 |pages=66–76 |doi=10.1017/S0022336000027554 |jstor=1306745|bibcode=1999JPal...73...66S |s2cid=133414164 }}</ref>
==Description== ''Villicumia canteraensis'' was first described in 1999 by Teresa M. Sánchez from fossils in sediments of the late Middle Ordovician, Caradocian aged Don Braulio Formation. The formation outcrops on the flank of Sierra de Villicum in the Argentina precordillera.<ref name="TPBDB">[https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayCollResults?collection_no=13513 The Paleobiology database "Sierra de Villicum" entry] accessed 9 February 2012</ref> The shells of ''V. canteraensis'' lack a thickened ligament on the hinge, called a resilifer, in combination with the rear portion of the shell being rounded, indicate ''V. canteraensis'' is a member of Praenuculidae. The hinge displays the chevroning of teeth with a concavity in the chevron facing towards the center of the hinge and the umbo. This tooth structure is typical of the subfamily Praenuculinae. However the structuring of the teeth is noted to be different in aspects from any other members of Praenuculidae, having an incline to the teeth similar to the genera ''Dysodonta'' and ''Koenenia'' of the family Malletiidae. The shells of ''V. canteraensis'' are also noted for possessing overlapping rows of posterior and anterior teeth, a feature seen in few bivalve genera. ''V. canteraensis'' ranges in shell length from {{convert|1.6|to|7.0|mm|in}} and has a height between {{convert|1.8|and|7.0|mm|in}}. When described, the genus name ''Villicumia'' was chosen by Sánchez in reference to Sierra de Villicum where the type locality is. Similarly the species epithet ''canteraensis'' was coined as a reference to the La Cantera Formation which is directly overlain by the Don Braulio Formation at Sierra de Villicum.<ref name="Sánchez1999"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q7931094}}
Category:Praenuculidae Category:Ordovician bivalves Category:Ordovician animals of South America Category:Ordovician Argentina Category:Fossil taxa described in 1999 Category:Monotypic prehistoric bivalve genera