Revision of some spiriferide and spiriferinide brachiopods from the historical type area of the Tournaisian stage (Carboniferous,southern Belgium)

Spiriferides, and to a lesser extent the spiriferinides, rank among the major elements of the Tournaisian brachiopod fauna from the mixed argillaceous–carbonate succession of the Tournai area (Hainaut sedimentation area, southern Belgium), along with productides (chonetidines and productidines) and athyridides. Based on well-preserved and silicified material from the Tournai Formation (Ivorian), representatives of the families Ambocoeliidae (Crurithyris goldfussiana), Strophopleuridae (Voiseyella roemeriana), Mucrospiriferidae (Tylothyris laminosa), and Cyrtinidae (Cyrtina koninckiana, C. sp. indet.) are described. Cyrtina hibernica is reported for the first time in the Visean of Visé (Visé Formation, Belgium). Biotic interactions between spiriferides and diverse organisms are illustrated, notably the diverse epizoans fixed on brachiopods (e.g., microconchids, cornulitids, crinoid holdfasts), single and multiple drill holes, and regeneration traces after predator attacks.