New Lower Cambrian trilobites from Pleistocene erratic boulders of northern Germany and Denmark and their bearing on the intercontinental correlation

Pleistocene erratic boulders in northern Germany and Denmark yield upper Lower Cambrian ellipsocephaloid trilobites described asEpichalnipsus anartanus n. gen., n. sp. andBerabichia erratica n. sp. They are supposedly derived from an unidentified late Early Cambrian unit from central Sweden and most probably come from an otherwise poorly fossiliferous stratigraphie interval of theHolmia kjerulfi Zone. Although both species are new, their systematic affinities permit a refined intercontinental correlation between Baltica and western Gondwana. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Early Cambrian phytoplankton diversification and appearance of trilobites in the Swedish Caledonides with implications for coupled evolutionary events between primary producers and consumers

The newly examined Lower Cambrian strata in the Laisvall-Storuman area, central Swedish Caledonides, yield diverse and stratigraphically significant phytoplanktic organic-walled microfossils (acritarchs) associated with the olenellid trilobites of Holmia sp. that appear to be at the lowermost horizon ever recorded in the Caledonides. The acritarchs, recovered throughout the Grammajukku Formation, are taxonomically reviewed in the context of regional and global trends of phytoplankton diversity. The assemblages are assigned to acritarch zones Skiagia ornata-Fimbriaglomerella membranacea and Heliosphaeridium dissimilare-Skiagia ciliosa , corresponding to the Schmidtiellus mickwitzi and Holmia kjerulfi trilobite zones. The records of acritarch radiations and appearances of trilobites and other faunas in Baltica, and on a more interregional scale, are biochronologically correlated, revealing tightly coupled evolutionary events among primary producers and consumers. The timing of early diversifications of trilobites in various faunal provinces is discussed and the relative age of the oldest known non-mineralized arthropods from the Zawiszyn Formation in Poland is estimated.     

滇西南孟连曼信地区早石炭世磷结核中的放射虫

滇西南昌宁－孟连构造带下石炭统平掌组火山岩之硅质岩夹层中,存在大量结核,X衍射分析证明,这些结核全部为磷结核。其中一块磷结核经分析,获得放射虫化石7属9种（其中包括一未定种）：Albaillella paradoxa Deflandre,Archocyrtium sp.,Robotium validum Cheng,Triaenosphaera sicarius Deflandre,Entactinia herculea Foreman,Entactinia parva Won,Astroentactinia multispinosa(Won),Entactinosphaera inusitata Foreman,Entactiosphaera palimbola Foreman,均属杜内期中期Albaillella paradoxa带。这些磷结核应该沉积在上升洋流形成的洋岛环境,而不是裂谷中。     

THE LOWER CAMBRIAN FOSSIL TOMMOTIA

The genera Tommotia Missarevskij 1970 (1966) and Camenella Missarevskij 1966 from the Lower Cambrian Tommotian Stage of the Siberian Platform represent different skeletal parts of the same organism and are consequently synonymous. Tommotia is selected as the valid name. Tommotia baltica n.sp. is described from the Lower Cambrian zone of Mobergella holsti of the Kalmarsund area in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. The Lower Cambrian families Tommotiidae Missarzevskij 1970 (1969) and Tannuolinidae Fonin & Smirnova 1967 show important similarities in their basic structure and are brought together in the new order Mitrosagophora, characterized by a composite outer skeleton with two types of skeletal elements, termed 'mitral' and 'sellate', each occurring in symmetrical pairs. The group is of uncertain systematic position but may have affinities with the Machaeridia.
The Scandinavian zone of Mobergella holsti is correlated with the Siberian zone of Dokidocyathus lenaicus and Majatheca tumefacta , the uppermost zone of the Tommotian Stage.     

A Middle and Late Cambrian age for the Booley Bay Formation,County Wexford,Ireland: New acritarch data and its implications

A well preserved Ediacara-type fauna was recorded for the first time a few years ago from the bases of seven sandstone beds in the type section of the Lower Palaeozoic Booley Bay Formation in County Wexford, Ireland. Four microfossil samples from mudstones interbedded with the sandstones yielded an acritarch microflora considered indicative of a late Late Cambrian age for the Ediacara fauna, thus suggesting extension of its range from the Neoproterozoic to the Late Cambrian, rather than to the Middle Cambrian as had been previously suggested. The current study examines the microfossils in more detail, with 18 samples, all of which were productive. One additional Ediacara bed approximately 100 m above those recorded earlier was also observed. The exceptionally well preserved acritarch assemblages indicate a clear Middle Cambrian age for the Ediacara beds, thus predating the previously suggested upper limit for Ediacara faunas. The uppermost part of the formation, above known occurrences of Ediacara beds, is younger; that is, early Late Cambrian, probably coeval with the Olenus trilobite zone. In addition, the age now proposed for the Booley Bay Formation shows that it is part of the Lower Palaeozoic Ribband Group of southeast Ireland, and not part of the Cahore Group as has recently been suggested by the Irish Geological Survey. Thirty-seven acritarch species (or species groups) are distinguished and illustrated. One new species, Stellechinatum ? mariatheresae Vanguestaine, is established.     

Trilobites from the lower and lowermost middle Cambrian of the Kiya River reference section (Kuznetsk Alatau)

The Kiya River reference section is characterized by trilohites confined to units X–XV of the Lower Cambrian Usa Formation and to the base of the lowermost Middle Cambrian Berikul Formation. Trilobites are represented by 130 species assigned to 77 genera. The given paper describes 38 species belonging to 27 genera. 16 species, 2 genera and one subfamily are new. All of them occur in the Usa Formation and in the Lower Cambrian pebbles of the Berikul Formation. Biostratigraphic analysis shows that the trilobite fauna contains characteristic trilobite assemblage elements of the Lower Cambrian regional stages in the Altay-Sayan Fold Belt, i.e. the Kiya and Kameshki regional stages (Atdabanian Stage), the Sanashtykgol regional stage (Botomian Stage), the Obruchev regional stage (Toyonian Stage). Table I shows trilobite species composition and vertical distribution in the reference section.     

河南叶县下寒武统辛集组单板类和腹足类化石的研究

本文描述和讨论了河南叶县杨寺庄下寒武统辛集组单板类１３种,腹足类２种,未定类１种。其中包括２新属６新种：Ｒｅｐｅｎｏｃｏｎｕｓ ｘｉｎｊｉｅｎｓｉｓ ｇｅｎ．ｎｏｖ．,Ｓｃｅｎｅｌｌａ ｐｙｃｎａ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,Ｓｅｃｕｒｉｃｏｎｕｓ ｖｕｌｇａｒｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,Ｏｂｔｕｓｏｃｎｕｓ ｇｒｏｓｓｉｃｏｓｔｕｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,Ｉｇｏｒｅｌｌｉｎａ ｐｒｏｂｏｓｃｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,Ｇａｌ     

A first report of Sphenothallus Hall, 1847 in the Cambrian of Variscan Europe

Ten specimens of two phosphatic fossils have been recently discovered in lower and middle portions of Middle Cambrian Jince Formation in the Czech Republic. They are attributed to the genus Sphenothallus Hall, 1847 and described as two separate species; comparatively small conchs are described as S. kozaki sp. nov., the much larger specimens characterized by its smooth and partly flexible organo-phosphatic walls of shell are determined as ?S. kordulei sp. nov. Sphenothallus is known to range from Cambrian to Permian and accommodates numerous species. However, its Cambrian distribution is considerably restricted. Generally rare specimens have been described from Lower to Middle Cambrian of Laurentia and from the Lower Cambrian of Gondwana and peri-Gondwana. The new record of Sphenothallus from the Jince Biota represents a notable extension of their geographic range.     

黔东早—中寒武世凯里组疑源类组合及其界线意义

通过对台江八郎和丹寨两条剖面凯里组中疑源类化石的分析,研究,台江剖面产疑源类化石有17属35各（12未定种）,其中以Leiosphaeridia,Synsphareidium,Cymatiosphaera,Pterospermella最为丰富,可划分为3个组合,即Cymatiosphaera cf.cristata-Fimbriaglomerella memebrancea组合,Cristallinium-Micrhystridium-Pterospermella组合和Dictyotidium-Granomarginata组合,丹寨平寨剖面凯里组所产疑源类化石有：13属21种（5未定种）,同样划分为3个组合,即Leiosphaeridia-Tasmanites组合,Retisphaeridium-Micrhystridium tentatium组合和Baltisphaeridium-Bubomorpha hunjiangensis组合,本文对两条剖面中的凝源类化石的组成,相对含量做了详细的统计,发现在八郎剖面9－2层和平寨剖面3层疑源类的丰度,分异度开始发生明显的变化,表现由早寒武世向中寒武世疑源类组合面貌的转变,这一疑源类转变层位正好是与三叶虫划分的中,下寒武统界线的层位位置相一致,这充分表明疑源类化石可作为划分中,下寒武统的极有价值的微体生物化石证据。     

Lapworthella filigrana n.sp. (incertae sedis) from the Lower Cambrian of the Cassiar Mountains,northern British Columbia,Canada, with comments on possible levels of competition in the early Cambrian

Two samples from the base of the Rosella Formation(Nevadella Zone) in the Cassiar Mountains, British Columbia, yielded a new species of the enigmatic genusLapworthella, L. filigrana n. sp., that is characterized by denticulate growth ridges and ornamented inter-ridge areas. As with other species ofLapworthella, intra-specific variation is considerable. One variant is comparable toL. lucida Meshkova 1969, from northern Siberia, but shows differences in the ornamentation of the more apical inter-ridge areas. The high degree of morphological variation inLapworthella finds parallels in certain other Lower Cambrian organisms. This variability may be the result of a low level of competition rather than a previous proposal of a primitive and inefficient genetic mechanism.     

The importance of Planolites in the Cambrian substrate revolution

Early Cambrian subtidal shelf substrates were characterized by low water content and steep chemical gradients, conditions likely facilitated by the presence of microbial mats as reflected by an abundance of microbially-mediated sedimentary structures in Lower Cambrian strata. Such substrate conditions would have been unfavourable for burrowing by benthic metazoans. A combination of environmental restrictions and a lack of adaptations to vertical burrowing likely prevented most benthic metazoans from burrowing infaunally in Early Cambrian subtidal shelf substrates. The eventual acquisition of burrowing adaptations by benthic metazoans later in the Cambrian promoted an increase in the depth and intensity of bioturbation and initiated a transition toward well-hydrated substrates in which extensive infaunal activity was possible.Siliciclastic units of the Lower Cambrian succession in the White–Inyo Mountains, eastern California, contain abundant horizontal bioturbation on bedding planes, as documented by bedding plane bioturbation indices, but little vertical bioturbation, as shown by ichnofabric indices and x-radiography. Planolites, a simple horizontal trace fossil, represents the dominant type of bioturbation in these units. Planolites is found in a range of diameters, indicating that more than one species of tracemaker likely produced this type of trace. Although these Planolites do not have a vertical component, their abundance on bedding planes indicates that the activities of Planolites tracemakers had a significant impact on subtidal shelf substrates, represented by Lower Cambrian units in the White–Inyo Mountains, early in the Cambrian substrate revolution.     

Moulting in the lobopodian Onychodictyon from the lower Cambrian of Greenland

A number of lobopodian taxa from the Cambrian display pairs of sclerotized plates symmetrically positioned along the dorsum of the animal, predominantly above the walking appendages. Most genera were described from complete body fossils exquisitely preserved in the famous Cambrian Lagerstätten, but lobopodian phosphatized plates are found worldwide as typical components of Cambrian small shelly fossil assemblages (SSF). Details regarding intraspecific and ontogenetic variation in lobopod plates are elusive, and the lack of details of ornamentation in Lagerstätte specimens does not minimize the problem. We document here an assemblage of well‐preserved isolated plates of Onychodictyon sp. from the Lower Cambrian (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) of North Greenland. Two specimens exhibit perfectly conjoined plates from successive moults. Details of ornamentation and the outline and profile of the fixed plates are identical, but width and length of the underlying plate are 24% larger. These specimens boost the body of evidence that lobopodians moulted but also show that plate outline and ornamentation did not vary during ontogeny.     

Lower Cambrian (Botomian) polycystine Radiolaria from the Altai Mountains (southern Siberia, Russia)

Relatively well-preserved polycystine Radiolaria are here described from Lower Cambrian (Botomian) strata of the Shashkunar Formation, Altai Mountains in southern Siberia (Russia). These radiolarians display a test formed of a disorderly and three-dimensionally interwoven meshwork of numerous straight and curved bars branching from a five-rayed point-centered spicule located within the inner shell surface. The shell structure allows their assignment to the family Archeoentactiniidae, thus extending the known age range of the family down to the Lower Cambrian. The Botomian age is based essentially on trilobites (Parapagetia-Serrodiscus zone), but also on archaeocyathids identified in earlier publications. The study of the radiolarian-bearing sedimentary sequence confirms the presence of polycystine radiolaria in the external platform environments of Lower Cambrian ecosystems.     

陕南地区下寒武统筇竹寺阶软舌螺化石

描述陕南地区下寒武统筇竹寺阶软舌螺化石６属８种,其中有５新属（Ningqiangethus gen.nov.,Bilgulitheca gen.nov.,Xixiangethes gen.nov.,Paranicrocornus gen.no.,Inflatatheca gen.nov.),新种,１相似种,１未定种。从组织结构和面貌上论述筇竹寺阶软舌螺和梅树村阶软舌螺匠区别,筇笔直寺阶的软舌螺不仅个体增大、背腹分异、口唇发育、壳体与口盖常共存,而且属种分异度大,为进一步研究软舌螺动物的早期演化和解决下寒武统生物地层划分为对比提供重要的实证材料。     

A scratch circle origin for the medusoid fossil Kullingia

Kullingia is considered a key taxon in demonstrating the presence of terminal Proterozoic-early Cambrian chondrophorine hydrozoans. However, Kullingia concentrica from the Lower Cambrian of northern Sweden possesses several features that show that it is not a body fossil but that it was formed by current or wave-induced rotation of an anchored tubular organism, possibly a sabelliditid. A scratch circle interpretation applies also to several other reports of Lower Cambrian Kullingia , including Kullingia delicata from the Chapel Island Formation of Newfoundland. Given the considerable number of problematic fossils that have been interpreted as chondrophorines, it is difficult to put an age on the oldest fossil chondrophorines, but it may be as late as the Devonian. Overall, scratch circles appear to be rarely preserved. The occurrence of these scratch circles in Lower Paleozoic storm deposits is probably related to low levels of bioturbation that enhanced both the likelihood of formation and preservation of these structures.     

Palaeoscolecid worms may be nematomorphs rather than annelids

Lower Palaeozoic palaeoscolecid worms have usually been referred to the phylum Annelida, albeit often with a question-mark, The find of palaeoscolecids with armed proboscis in the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang fauna from Yunnan, southwest China, provides evidence that these worms were aschelminths. They are similar to the Nematoda, Priapulida, and Nematomorpha and presumably closest to the latter, although not parasitic. The palaeoscolecids appear to be just one of several 'armoured-worm' radiations among the earliest representatives of modem phyla, as suggested by the plentitude of 'small shelly fossils' in the Lower Cambrian. *** Aschelminthes, Cambrian, Chengjiang fauna, Nematomorpha, Palaeoscolecida.     

The Early Cambrian acritarch Skiagia and its significance for global correlation

Global records of Early Cambrian acritarchs from the Skiagia plexus reveal that they are stratigraphically significant and can be used as biostratigraphic markers. Skiagia ornata and Skiagia ciliosa have a cosmopolitan distribution and the levels of their first appearance datums are proposed to serve as biostratigraphic horizons for interregional correlation. These levels are close to the lower boundary of the undefined Cambrian Stage 3, and within the Stage 3, respectively. The acritarch assemblage diagnostic of the Heliosphaeridium dissimilare-S. ciliosa Zone of Baltica is recorded worldwide and some species are traced on four of the Cambrian continents that include South Australia, South China and Laurentia. This supports the intercontinental correlation of certain Lower Cambrian strata and establishes the time equivalence between the regional trilobite zones to which these strata are attributed. The regional zonation is briefly reviewed for the purpose of comparing and evaluating the acritarch ranges. The biostratigraphic correlation of the Lower Cambrian strata, belonging to different faunal provinces, is based for the first time on the same fossil species, which have a cosmopolitan distribution and well-defined first appearance datums, and on the entire diagnostic acritarch assemblages.     

贵州早、中寒武世斗篷海绵科(Choiidae)的发现

本文描述了贵州遵义下寒武统牛蹄塘组生物群和台江中寒武世凯里生物群中保存完整的斗篷海绵科(Choiidae)中斗篷海绵(Choia)和小斗篷海绵(Choiaella)化石标本,共计2属2种2未定种：Choia zunyiensis sp.nov.,Choia sp.,Choiaella avata sp.nov.和Choiaella sp.。Choia分布很广．在我国下寒武统澄江生物群及北美中寒武统的四大生物群中均有产出。Choiaella原仅产于我国澄江生物群,凯里生物群中Choiaella的发现使其时代上延至中寒武世。贵州早、中寒武世斗篷海绵科的发现及研究为海绵动物的早期演化及古地理学等方面的研究提供了重要的新材料。     

A statistical/computer-graphic technique for assessing variation in tectonically deformed fossils and its application to Cambrian trilobites from Kashmir

Hughes, N. C. & Jell, P. A. 1992 07 15: A stdlislical/compuler-graphic technique for assessing variation in tectonically deformed fossils and its application to Cambrian trilobites from Kashmir.
A combined approach using statistics and computer graphics can help resolve patterns of morphological variation in tectonically deformed fossils. Bivariate analyses and Principal Components Analysis can be used to identify a generalized strain vector in populations of deformed fossils, the identification of which permits discrimination of biological and tectonically induced variation. Results can be used to determine the number of taxa and growth relationships within the population. Statistically resolved taxa can be compared with species described from other areas using computer-aided shape restorations. Application of these techniques to a sample of trilobite cranidia from the Cambrian of Kashmir demonstrates that the variation of characters used to diagnose several genera and species are ontogeny- or deformation-controlled. Seven previously described species of Saukia, Prosaukia, Hundwarella and Anomocare are best considered as a single species, Hundwarella personara . These results suggest a Middle Cambrian age for the fauna, which has affinities with other faunas described from India and northern China. Hundwarella personara shows a pattern of developmental flexibility similar to that seen in other Cambrian trilobites. Morphometrics, computer-aided restoration, deformed fossils, allometry, trilobites, Cambrian, Kashmir, developmental flexibility .     

Palynostratigraphy of Middle Cambrian to lowermost Ordovician stratal sequences in the High Zagros Mountains, southern Iran: Regional stratigraphic implications, and palaeobiogeographic significance

A palynological investigation of Cambro-Ordovician stratal sequences in the High Zagros Mountains of southern Iran permits the definition of a series of successive acritarch assemblage zones of chronostratigraphic significance, much improving the current knowledge of the Lower Palaeozoic stratigraphy of this important area for oil exploration. The five acritarch assemblage zones can be readily correlated with previously established palynostratigraphic schemes constrained by co-occurrence of independent age evidence, confirming the utility of organic-walled microfossils for the detailed biostratigraphic characterization of sedimentary units. The proposed biozonation will facilitate accurate dating of the southern Iranian Cambrian sequences during future drilling of deep test oil wells. Acritarch assemblage zone I (Middle Cambrian), occurs at the base of Member C of the Mila Formation; assemblages zone II (late Middle to earliest Late Cambrian) extends through the middle and upper part of the same lithostratigraphic unit; zone III (early Late Cambrian in age) characterizes the lower part of the Ilebeyk Formation; zone IV (middle Late Cambrian up to Cambrian/Ordovician transitional levels) occurs in the middle and upper part of the Ilebeyk Formation; finally, acritarch assemblage zone V ranges through the basal part of the Zardkuh Formation and proves an early Tremadocian age for the latter unit. The Mid-Late Cambrian acritarch associations show a marked Avalonian palaeobiogeographical affinity, also sharing a high proportion of taxa with typical Baltican and North Africa–Gondwanan assemblages; on the other hand, they are clearly different from known Laurentian (North America) fossil microphytoplankton suites. These results are in general agreement with current palaeogeographical models which place Avalonia, Baltica, and the North African part of Gondwana, all at relatively high southern palaeolatitudes, in contrast with the sub-equatorial position of Laurentia. However, the presence of many typical “Avalonian” taxa in the Iranian Mid-Late Cambrian assemblages would suggest a closer position of Iran to Avalonia than currently envisaged. The observed breakdown of acritarch biogeographic differentiation in earliest Ordovician times possibly represents a major disruption of oceanic current patterns and a lessened palaeolatitudinal thermal gradient.