Some samples collected by dredging on the outer shelf and on the slope off the Apulian coast, were studied for their malacological content. On a shallow water assemblage withOstreagr.edulisa sequence was recognized beginning with a fossil community withPseudamussium septemradiatumof Würmain age followed by a Postwürmian community withPuncturella noachina - Pilidium fulvum - Homalopoma peloritanum; both the last assemblages are interpreted as Residual Fossil Communities,sensuFageström (1964). Only in recent time the increased depth, temperature and perhaps salinity allowed the settling of the modern biocenoses recognized as Biocoenose des Fonds Detritiques Côtiers and Biocoenose des Fonds Detritiques du Large,sensuPérès and Picard (1964).