A NEW EARLY CARBONIFEROUS MICRO-PRODUCTID BRACHIOPOD FROM SOUTH CHINA

Abstract:  We describe Muhuarina haeretica gen. et sp. nov. from a recently discovered silicified brachiopod fauna from the Lower Carboniferous of South China. This new microproductid appears to be the oldest representative of the highly differentiated, mainly Permian, aulostegoid family Cooperinidae. The internal structure of the dorsal valve of M. haeretica is dominated by strongly developed, pronounced subperipheral ridges, which suggest support for a simple schizolophe type of lophophore. Brachial ridges, as in other productides, most probably represent an attachment area of the lophophore to the dorsal epithelium. An attempt to homologize subperipheral and brachial ridges among Cooperinidae is presented.