Trilobite faunal successions across the base of the Furongian Series in the Taebaek Group, Taebaeksan Basin, Korea

The base of the Furongian Series in the Sino-Korean Block has not been clearly defined due to the lack of the index taxon, Glyptagnostus reticulatus. The Sesong Formation of the Taebaek Group, Taebaeksan Basin, Korea, has been known to range from the Guzhangian Stage of the Cambrian Series 3 to the middle Furongian Series, hence embracing the base of the Furongian Series. Silicified polymerid trilobites were recovered from the middle part of the Sesong Formation. Described are a total of 18 polymerid species of 13 genera: Neodrepanura sp. 1, Teinistion sp. 1, Huzhuia sp. 1, Huzhuia sp. 2, Liostracina simesi, Liostracina sp. 1, Parachangshania monkei, Parachangshania rectangularis nov. sp., Placosema bigranulosum, Fenghuangella laevis nov. sp., Baikadamaspis jikdongensis nov. sp., Baikadamaspis sp. 1, Prochuangia mansuyi, Maladioides coreanicus, Alataspis sesongensis nov. gen., nov. sp., Chuangia sp. 1, and ceratopygids genus and species indeterminate 1 and 2. The stratigraphic occurrence of these trilobites provides a basis for recognition of five zones across the base of the Furongian Series (in ascending order): the Neodrepanura, Liostracina simesi, Fenghuangella laevis, Prochuangia mansuyi, and Chuangia zones. The Neodrepanura and Chuangia zones are provisionally adopted from the previous biostratigraphic scheme, while the three other ones are newly proposed. The recommended base of the Furongian Series in the Taebaek Group of Korea coincides with the base of the Fenghuangella laevis Zone, which appears to represent an episode of profound trilobite faunal turnover.     

Silicified Middle Cambrian trilobites from Kyrgyzstan

Abstract:  A medium diversity silicified Middle Cambrian faunal assemblage occurs in an olistolith of bioclastic limestone within Silurian siliciclastic turbidites on the slopes of Arpatektyr Mountain in the eastern Alai Range, Kyrgyzstan. The fauna includes the trilobites Raragnostus cf. mirus , Altikolia kurshabica sp. nov., Corynexochina weberi , Dorypyge richthofeniformis , aff. Jincella sp., Olenoides comptus , Skreiaspis aff. spinosus and Suluktella mambetovi sp. nov. Three of these taxa ( C .  weberi , O .  comptus and R . cf.  mirus ) are considered locally to be characteristic of the Pseudanomocarina Beds, although Pseudanomocarina itself is not present. Altikolia and Suluktella are endemic to early Palaeozoic terranes of Central Asia, Corynexochina also occurs in South China and Skreiaspis is known elsewhere exclusively from the Middle Cambrian of 'West' Gondwana. Because of preservation in full relief, the silicified trilobite fauna allows a detailed understanding of some morphological structures, related especially to trilobite enrolment, otherwise inadequately known for many Mid-Cambrian polymerid trilobites.     

Early and Mid Cambrian trilobites from the outer-shelf deposits of Nevada and California, USA

A latest Early Cambrian and earliest Mid Cambrian polymeroid trilobite fauna, consisting of 16 genera and 25 species, is reported from the peritidal deposits of the Mule Spring Limestone and outer-shelf deposits of the Emigrant and Monola formations of Nevada and California. The Mid Cambrian fauna includes a new genus, Tonopahella , and four new species, T. goldfieldensis , Oryctocephalus americanus , Onchocephalites claytonensis , and Syspacephalus variosus . The peri-Gondwana species Oryctocephalus orientalis , Oryctocephalites runcinatus , and Paraantagmus latus are recorded in Laurentia for the first time.     

First African oryctocephalid trilobites from the Lower–Middle Cambrian boundary interval

Oryctocephalid trilobites from Lower Middle Cambrian strata of the eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco, are the first described Oryctocephalidae known from Africa. They represent the new genus and species Shergoldiella vincenti. However, a similar species was earlier described as Tonkinella sequei Liñán et Gozalo, 1999, from coeval lower Middle Cambrian strata of the Iberian Chains, northern Spain. This Iberian species is imperfectly preserved and assigned herein to Shergoldiella with reservations. If this assignment is correct, it would reinforce earlier suggested correlations between Morocco and Spain. Nevertheless, Shergoldiella suggests a morphocline from a typical oryctocephalid-type morphology towards the Tonkinella-type morphology. Close similarity with Ovatoryctocara ovata suggests a similar stratigraphic position in accordance with earlier suggested intercontinental correlations.     

Morphological assessment of the Cambrian trilobites Oryctocephalus indicus (Reed 1910) from China and Oryctocephalus ‘reticulatus’ (Lermontova 1940) from Siberia

Oryctocephalus indicus is a widespread trilobite species described from the lower–middle Cambrian (provisional Cambrian Stage 5) of south China, North Korea, India, USA and possibly North Greenland. Principal component analysis (PCA) and thin‐plate splines (TPSs) based on a pooled sample of 359 specimens from four sections in the Guizhou Province, south China, demonstrated that the shape of this species is very constant, and only a small difference is detected in specimens from deeper part of the basin. Most of the variation is taphonomically controlled, and only the specimens from Sanwan Section show a modest natural difference due to a slightly different depositional environment. A comparison between the Chinese specimens and Oryctocephalus ‘reticulatus’ from the Molodo Section, Siberia, has been carried out. PCA and TPS show that O. ‘reticulatus occupies the same morphospace of O. indicus. However, the canonical variates analysis and the analysis of similarities detect small differences between the Siberian and Chinese populations, indicating a minor geographical variation caused by different environmental settings. The ontogenic variation is also described from early meraspids to holaspids. The most substantial changes take place during the first period of the early meraspid development, in which the glabella changes from a bell‐like shape to a cylindrical shape. The ocular ridge changes from poorly defined in early meraspid to well developed in late merapids. The results indicate that O. ‘reticulatus’ is a junior synonym of O. indicus, suggesting that the base O. indicus of Siberia can be correlated with the O. indicus Zone of south China.     

Some solenopleurine trilobites from the Languedocian (Late Mid Cambrian) of Western Europe

The solenopleurine trilobite genera Jincella and Liosolenopleura are revised herein. The species Jincella prantli, Jincella convexa nov. sp. and Liosolenopleura serventi occur in Languedocian (upper Middle Cambrian) rocks of the southern Montagne Noire (France), southwestern Sardinia (Italy), and the P?íbram-Jince and Skryje areas (Czech Republic). The correlation of their first appearances permits us to improve the Middle Cambrian biostratigraphic correlations in western and central Europe. At least 17 Middle Cambrian Bohemian species are already reported outside the Czech Republic, whose outcrops can be considered as a hinge in the correlations between southwestern Europe, Saxo-Thuringia, Avalonia and Baltica.     

Probable predation on Upper Cambrian trilobites and its relevance for the extinction of soft-bodied Burgess Shale-type animals

The lower Rabbitkettle Formation of northwestern Canada is a monofacial Upper Cambrian unit of variably calcareous, argillaceous siltstone and fine-grained sandstone with rare bioclastic grainstone, deposited on a gentle slope below fair-weather wave base with no discernible fluctuation in water depth. The trilobite fauna is a mixture of pandemic agnostoids and Laurentian polymeroids, including protaspides and meraspides, and individuals are disarticulated, non-abraded and mostly oriented convex-upward. Bioclasts are interpreted as in situ elements affected only by weak bottom currents and storm-induced turbulence. A major proportion of the larger (≥5 mm across) polymeroid cranidia and pygidia in the lower part (Marjuman) of the formation are broken; large thoracic segments are often broken at the axial furrow and some broken free cheeks occur, but essentially no broken agnostoids or hypostomes were observed. Trilobites are not broken in upper beds (Steptoean), above the base of the Glyptagnostus retculatus Zone. Physical breakage cannot be dismissed entirely, but most damage is interpreted to be due to size-selective predation, possibly through lethal blows similar to those delivered by some extant stomatopod crustaceans. A possible culprit may be an animal akin to Yohoia , known from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale. The distribution of attacked trilobites serves as a proxy for the presence and disappearance of soft-bodied carnivores. In the Rabbitkettle Formation, it suggests that Burgess Shale-type animals may have persisted into the Late Cambrian but suffered extinction at the Marjuman-Steptoean 'biomere' event when most trilobite species vanished.     

Asymmetry of Early Paleozoic trilobites

Asymmetry in fossils can arise through a variety of biological and geological mechanisms. If geological sources of asymmetry can be minimized or factored out, it might be possible to assess biological sources of asymmetry. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), a general measure of developmental precision, is documented for nine species of lower Paleozoic trilobites. Taphonomic analyses suggest that the populations studied for each taxon span relatively short time intervals that are approximately equal in duration. Tectonic deformation may have affected the specimens studied, since deviations from normal distributions are common. Several measures of FA were applied to 3–5 homologous measures in each taxon. Measurement error was assessed by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measurements of individual specimens and by analysis of the statistical moments of the distributions of asymmetry measures. Measurement error was significantly smaller than the difference between measures taken on each side of a specimen. However, the distribution of differences between sides often deviated from a mean of zero, or was skewed or kurtosic. Regression of levels of FA against geologic age revealed no statistically significant changes in levels of asymmetry through time. Geological and taphonomic effects make it difficult to identify asymmetry due to biological factors. Although fluctuating asymmetry is a function of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, the results suggest that early Cambrian trilobites possessed genetic or developmental mechanisms used to maintain developmental stability comparable to those of younger trilobites. Although the measures are biased by time averaging and deviations from the normal distribution, these data do not lend strong support to 'genomic' hypotheses that have been suggested to control the tempo of the Cambrian radiation.     

Cambrian high-resolution biostratigraphy and carbon isotope chemostratigraphy in Scania, Sweden: first record of the SPICE and DICE excursions in Scandinavia

A core drilling (Andrarum‐3), from the classical locality at Andrarum, Scania, southernmost Sweden, penetrated a 28.90‐m‐thick Cambrian succession. The core comprises dark grey to black, finely laminated mudstones and shales with early concretionary carbonate lenses (stinkstones or orsten) and a few primary carbonate beds. The middle Cambrian (provisional Series 3) part of the core comprises 17.35 m, whereas the Furongian Series (upper Cambrian) part covers the remaining 11.55 m. Nineteen trilobite and two phosphatocopine genera are present in the middle Cambrian, whereas the less diverse Furongian interval yielded four trilobite and three phosphatocopine genera. Other, less frequent, faunal elements include conodonts (s. l.), brachiopods, sponge spicules, bradoriids, and coprolites. Trilobites and phosphatocopines were used to subdivide the core into seven biozones ranging from the Ptychagnostus atavus Zone to the Parabolina spinulosa Zone (P. spinulosa Subzone). Carbon isotopic analyses (δ¹³C_org) through the core show two important excursions, the negative DrumIan Carbon isotope Excursion (DICE) in the Pt. atavus Zone, and the Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion (SPICE) beginning near the first appearance of Glyptagnostus reticulatus and extending upward into the Olenus and Agnostus (Homagnostus) obesus Zone. The DICE displays a peak value, in the samples at hand, of –30.45‰δ¹³C_org in the lower part of the P. atavus Zone. The δ¹³C_org values increase through the overlying L. laevigata and A. pisiformis zones and display peak values of c. –28.00‰δ¹³C_org in the lowermost Furongian Olenus wahlenbergi and O. attenuatus subzones. Thereafter the values decrease significantly through the O. scanicus Subzone. Both isotopic excursions have been documented from several palaeocontinents, but never before from Baltica. Moreover, for the first time these excursions are recorded from organic matter in an alum shale setting. The recorded shift of +1.50–2.00‰δ¹³C_org is approximately half the magnitude of the SPICE documented from other regions. This discrepancy may be related to temporal variations in the type, origin, or diagenesis of the organic fraction analysed.     

Silicified Upper Ordovician trilobites from Pai‐Khoi,Arctic Russia

Abstract: A collection of silicified trilobites extracted from samples obtained by F. Nansen from the Upper Ordovician of Khabarovo, Pai Khoi, Russian Arctic is dominated by two new species of the proetide Lasarchopyge, a genus known hitherto only from the Argentine Precordillera. Comparison of Lasarchopyge with Scharyia reveals a range of common characters that support inclusion of both genera in the same family. The rest of the fauna comprises a metagnostid (Trinodus elspethi), an asaphid (Isotelus sp.), two remopleuridids (Remopleurides cf. caelatus and R. sp. nov. A), an aulacopleurid (Harpidella triloba), a lichid and an odontopleurid (Apianurus cf. barbatus), the last two being represented by very fragmentary material. T. elspethi, H. triloba, R. cf. caelatus and A. cf. barbatus are common to or closely resemble taxa from the Edinburg Formation, Virginia. Closely related taxa are present also in the Esbataottine Formation, NW Territories, Canada, and in the Albany Group, Girvan district, Scotland. All of these occurrences are of early Caradoc (Sandbian) age, and most lay at palaeolatitudes of 20°–30° south; all are interpreted as having been deposited on the outer shelf, which is consistent with their distribution.     

山东潍坊寒武系苗岭统乌溜阶馒头组上部的腕足动物

寒武系腕足动物属种多样性高、个体数量丰富、形态差异明显、地理分布广泛,具有辅助寒武系三叶虫生物地层划分和对比的潜力.华北板块寒武系苗岭统沉积和化石记录发育良好,是中国苗岭统的经典研究区之一.前人己针对华北寒武系苗岭统乌溜阶腕足动物的系统古生物学开展了一系列基础工作,但这些相关研究主要集中于辽宁地区,目前对华北其他地区苗...     

The North China Steptoean positive carbon isotope excursion and its global correlation with the base of the Paibian Stage (early Furongian Series), Cambrian

The use of carbon isotope excursion in Cambrian stratigraphical correlation is a standard practice at both the intercontinental and intracontinental scales. The Steptoean positive carbon isotope excursion (SPICE) is one of the prime examples in this regard in correlating the base of the Paibian Stage and Furongian Series. A lack of definite SPICE evidence in the North China craton has been a challenge in precision correlation between North China and other palaeo‐continents. This study provides new carbonates carbon isotope data from the type locality of the Changshan Formation in Hebei Province, North China. Our new δ13C_carb data provide new objective evidence for the presence of the SPICE in North China. The sampling section is relatively condensed, and the interval of the SPICE curve is less than one and half‐metres after analysing 64 samples (the sampling interval within the SPICE is less than 10 cm). The onset of the SPICE curve in Tangshan, Hebei, occurs in the barren interval between the Neodrepanura and Chuangia trilobite zones. Based on this study and previous work, this could imply the middle part of the Prochuangia‐Paracoosia trilobite Zone in North China and can be correlated with the base of the Paibian Stage and Furongian Series.     

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.     

Modelling enrolment in Cambrian trilobites

Trilobites were capable of enroling in different ways based on the flexible articulation of thoracic segments and associated interlocking devices; the type of enrolment (spiral or sphaeroidal) is thought to have largely depended on the coaptative devices that each trilobite used to enclose the body. Based on X‐ray microtomography scans of complete enrolled specimens from the Cambrian, we created three‐dimensional (3D) computer models to assess the kinematics needed to achieve both enrolment types. We demonstrate that closely related trilobites with little morphological variation (Bailiaspis?, Conocoryphe and Parabailiella) developed different enrolment types as a result of small variations in the number of thoracic segments and the angle between adjacent segments. Moreover, our models indicate that sphaeroidal enrolment, which is associated with a smaller number of thoracic segments, enabled faster encapsulation. This supports the hypothesis that there was a trend in the evolution of trilobites towards reduction in the number of thoracic segments in phylogenetically derived taxa in order to enhance the efficiency of enrolment.     

Ontogeny of the Upper Cambrian (Furongian) Olenid trilobite Protopeltura aciculate (Angelin, 1854) from Skåne and Västergötland,Sweden

Abstract: The ontogeny of the trilobite Protopeltura aciculata (Angelin, 1854) is described on the basis of material from the upper Cambrian (Furongian) of Andrarum (Skåne) and Hjelmsäter (Västergötland), Sweden. P. aciculata is present in the Parabolina brevispina and Parabolina spinulosa zones. Protopeltura aciculata is represented by all stages of growth, from early protaspides to holaspides, although most of the specimens are disarticulated and precise degrees are unknown. The cranidia have therefore been allocated to five morphological groups. Cuticular sculpture of the cranidia changes throughout ontogeny. Large tubercles are present in earlier stages, disappear gradually in middle meraspid stages and are replaced with a very faint granulation. The transitory pygidium, relatively large and shield‐shaped with upwardly and backwardly directed marginal spines in early meraspides, later becomes very small, triangular‐shaped and lacking spines as a late meraspid and holaspid. The development of hypostomes and librigenae is also described. Protopeltura aciculata shows major intraspecific variations throughout development, especially regarding the pygidium where variation is much less constrained than in many other olenids. This high developmental plasticity may be a survival strategy for a trilobite living in a stressed environment. Protopeltura inhabited a dysoxic environment, possibly unusually prone to localised spreading of anoxic or toxic water. Some morphs may have been less vulnerable than others to such stresses, surviving by chance and thus enabling the species to continue.     

Proetid trilobites from the middle Telychian (Llandovery,Silurian) Ningqiang Formation,Shaanxi, China

Four proetid trilobite species, Chuanqianoproetus guizhouensis Yin in Yin and Li, 1978, C. shuangheensis Wu, 1977, C. sp., and Latiproetus guizhouensis Yin in Yin and Li, 1978, are described from the Ningqiang Formation in Ningqiang County, Shaanxi, China. They are middle Telychian (Llandovery, Silurian) in age. Chuanqianoproetus and Latiproetus are both regarded as members of the subfamily Warburgellinae; the former has been considered to be a junior subjective synonym of Astroproetus, but on the basis of its morphology we argue here that they represent two independent genera. The poorly sorted bioclastic grainstones containing trilobite sclerites may indicate their deposition in turbulent conditions on an open marine platform.     

Organic-walled microfossils from Cambrian Stage IV in the Jiaobang section,eastern Guizhou,China

The lower Cambrian succession in the Jiaobang section, Jianhe County, eastern Guizhou, China, includes, in ascending order, the Bianmachong, Balang, and Tsinghsutung formations, with a total thickness of about 645 m. Twenty-six morphological genera (including one new genus) are identified from the Balang and the underlying Bianmachong formations, many of which are common and widely distributed. Six acritarch assemblages are discerned in the Balang Formation. They are, in ascending order, the Adara alea‒Skiagia ornata, the Acrum radiale‒Pterospermella velata, the Comasphaeridium molliculum‒Solisphaeridium baltoscandium, the Corrugasphaera perfecta n. sp.‒Pterospermella vinctusa n. sp., the Acrum novum‒Heliosphaeridium oligum, and the Acrum membranosum‒Adarve diafanum acritarch assemblages. An obvious change of organic-walled microfossil assemblages occurred in the interval between 84 m and 98 m from the bottom of the Balang Formation which roughly corresponds to the boundary between the Oryctacarella duyunensis trilobite Zone and the overlying Arthricocephalus chauveaui trilobite Zone. In addition, organic-walled microfossils are scarce in about 24 m thick from the bottom of the Balang Formation. One new genus and five new species including Plagasphaera balangensis n. gen. n. sp., Asteridium tubulus n. sp., Cymatiosphaera spina n. sp., Corrugasphaera perfecta n. sp., and Pterospermella vinctusa n. sp. are described.     

内蒙古清水河晚寒武世崮山期三叶虫

记述内蒙古清水河刘家窑上寒武统崮山组中下部灰色中一薄层含鲕粒灰岩．泥质条带灰岩夹竹叶状灰岩中的三叶虫化石１０种,其中３新种（包括１新亚种）,分属于７属４科。