Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T20:36:43.117Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The aulacopleurid trilobite Otarion, with new species from the Silurian of northwestern Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

J. M. Adrain
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
B. D. E. Chatterton
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada

Abstract

The genus Otarion Zenker, 1833, first appears in the Wenlock simultaneously with Cyphaspis Burmeister, 1843, as the oldest known species of each occur together in the southern Mackenzie Mountains of the Canadian Northwest Territories. The genera are unambiguous sister groups, a relationship supported most compellingly by a uniquely derived and distinctive pattern of juvenile cephalic spines, shared also with the Carboniferous genus Namuropyge Richter and Richter, 1939. This sister group relationship permits the development of a robust and stratigraphically correlated hypothesis of relationship among the adequately known species of Otarion, Otarion, Cyphaspis, and Namuropyge constitute the tribe Otarionini. The Mississippian genus Dixiphopyge Brezinski, 1988, may also belong to Otarionini. Namuropyge is a paedomorph, likely derived from a Degree Six or Seven meraspid of an older species of uncertain position in the Otarion–Cyphaspis clade.

Three Wenlock species of Otarion occur in stratigraphic succession in a single section in the Mackenzie Mountains. Analysis of morphological change with time, and of sequential ontogenies, suggests that the Silurian history of the genus was dominated by incidents of peramorphosis.

New species are Otarion huddyi, O. beukeboomi, and O. coppinsensis. Otarion brauni Perry and Chatterton, 1979, is revised.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adrain, J. M., and Chatterton, B. D. E. 1990. Odontopleura (Trilobita, Silurian), and a method of constrained congruency analysis. Journal of Paleontology, 64:600614.Google Scholar
Alberti, G. K. B. 1967. Neue obersilurische sowie unter- und mitteldevonische Trilobiten aus Marokko, Deutschland und einigen anderen europäischen Gebeiten. 2. Senckenbergiana Lethaea, 48:481509.Google Scholar
Alberti, G. K. B. 1969. Trilobiten des jüngeren Siluriums sowie des Unter- und Mitteldevons. I. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, 520:1692.Google Scholar
Angelin, N. P. 1854. Paleontologica Scandinavica. Pars I. Crustacea formationis transitionis. Fasc, 2:2192, Lund.Google Scholar
Baldis, B., and Longobucco, M. 1977. Trilobites Devónicos de la Precordilleran Noroccidental (Argentina). Ameghiniana, 14:145161.Google Scholar
Barrande, J. 1852. Systěme Silurien du centre de la Bohěme. lère partie. Recherches paléontologiques, Volume 1. Crustacés, Trilobites. Prague and Paris, 935 p.Google Scholar
Brezinski, D. K. 1988. Revision and redescription of some Lower Mississippian trilobites from the Chouteau Formation (Kinderhookian) of central Missouri. Journal of Paleontology, 62:103110.Google Scholar
Burmeister, H. 1843. Die Organisation der Trilobiten. Berlin, 147 p.Google Scholar
Chang, W.-T. 1974. Silurian Trilobita, p. 173187. In (Handbook of the stratigraphy and paleontology of southwest China). Edited by the Nanking Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Academica Sinica. Science Press, Beijing. [In Chinese.]Google Scholar
Chatterton, B. D. E. 1971. Taxonomy and ontogeny of Siluro-Devonian trilobites from near Yass, New South Wales. Palaeontographica, A, 137:1108.Google Scholar
Chatterton, B. D. E., and Campbell, K. S. W. 1980. Silurian trilobites from Canberra and some related forms from the Yass Basin. Palaeontographica, A, 167:77119.Google Scholar
Chatterton, B. D. E., Edgecombe, G. D., and Tuffnell, P. A. 1990a. Extinction and migration in Silurian trilobites and conodonts of northwestern Canada. Journal of the Geological Society of London, 147:703715.Google Scholar
Chatterton, B. D. E., and Perry, D. G. 1983. Silicified Silurian odontopleurid trilobites from the Mackenzie Mountains. Palaeontographica Canadiana, 1:1127.Google Scholar
Chatterton, B. D. E., and Perry, D. G. 1984. Silurian cheirurid trilobites from the Mackenzie Mountains northwestern Canada. Palaeontographica, A, 184:178.Google Scholar
Chatterton, B. D. E., Silver, D. J., Edgecombe, G. D., and Hunt, A. S. 1990b. Larvae and relationships of the Calymenina (Trilobita). Journal of Paleontology, 64:255277.Google Scholar
Chaubet, M. C. 1937. Contribution a l'étude geologique du Gothlandien du versant meridionel de la Montagne Noire. Laboratoire de Géologie de l'Université Montpelier, Faculté des Sciences, Mémoire, 1:1223.Google Scholar
Chlupáč, I. 1969. Revision of the Middle Devonian trilobites from Horní Benešov in the Nízký Jeseník Mts. (Moravia). Sborník Geologických Véd, Paleontologie, 10:67103.Google Scholar
Claypole, E. W. 1884. On the occurrence of the genus Dalmanites in the Lower Carboniferous rocks of Ohio. Geologica. Magazine, Series 3, 1:303307.Google Scholar
Edgecombe, G. D., and Chatterton, B. D. E. 1987. Heterochrony in the Silurian radiation of encrinurine trilobites. Lethaia, 20:337351.Google Scholar
Edgecombe, G. D., and Chatterton, B. D. E. 1990a. Mackenziurus, a new genus of the Silurian “Encrinurus” variolaris plexus (Trilobita). American Museum Novitates, 2968:122.Google Scholar
Edgecombe, G. D., and Chatterton, B. D. E. 1990b. Systematics of Enrinuroides and Curriella (Trilobita), with a new Early Silurian encrinurine from the Mackenzie Mountains. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 27:820833.Google Scholar
Edgecombe, G. D., and Chatterton, B. D. E. 1992. Early Silurian (Llandovery) encrinurine trilobites from the Mackenzie Mountains, Canada. Journal of Paleontology, 66:5274.Google Scholar
Edgecombe, G. D., and Ramsköld, L. 1992. The Silurian encrinurine trilobite Pacificurus: new species from North America. Journal of Paleontology, 66:255262.Google Scholar
Edgecombe, G. D., Speyer, S. E., and Chatterton, B. D. E. 1988. Protaspid larvae and phylogenetics of encrinurid trilobites. Journal of Palaeontology, 62:779799.Google Scholar
Erben, H. K. 1952. Trilobiten aus dem Herzyn (Unterdevon) des Unterharzes. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen, 94:150362.Google Scholar
Etheridge, R., and Mitchell, J. 1893. The Silurian trilobites of New South Wales, with references to those of other parts of Australia. Part II. The genera Proetus and Cyphaspis. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 8:169178.Google Scholar
Fortey, R. A. 1990. Ontogeny, hypostome attachment and trilobite classification. Palaeontology, 33:529576.Google Scholar
Fortey, R. A., and Owens, R. M. 1975. Proetida—a new order of trilobites. Fossils and Strata, 4:227239.Google Scholar
Haas, W. 1968. Trilobiten aus dem Silur und Devon von Bithynien (NW-Türkei). Paleontographicà, A, 130:60207.Google Scholar
Hawle, I., and Corda, A. J. C. 1847. Prodrom einer Monographie der böhmischen Trilobiten. Prague, 176 p.Google Scholar
Horný, R., and Bastl, F. 1970. Type Specimens of Fossils in the National Museum, Prague. Volume 1. Trilobita. National Museum, Prague, 354 p.Google Scholar
Ingham, J. K. 1970. A monograph of the Upper Ordovician trilobites from the Cautley and Dent districts of Westmorland and Yorkshire. Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society, 58 p.Google Scholar
Jell, P. A. 1978. Trilobite respiration and genal caeca. Alcheringa, 2:251260.Google Scholar
Kielan, Z. 1960. Upper Ordovician trilobites from Poland and some related forms from Bohemia and Scandinavia. Paleontologia Polonica, 11:1198.Google Scholar
Kobayashi, T., and Hamada, T. 1971. Agnostoid trilobites in a Devonian formation in West Malaysia. Proceedings of the Japan Academy, 47:396400.Google Scholar
Hong-Tsun, Kuo. 1962. Some Silurian trilobites from the Er-Tao-Gou Group of Jilin. Ku Sheng Wu Hsueh Pao, 10:377381.Google Scholar
Lenz, A. C. 1990. Ludlow and Pridoli (Upper Silurian) graptolite biostratigraphy of the central Arctic Islands: a preliminary report. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 27:10741083.Google Scholar
Lenz, A. C., and Melchin, M. J. 1990. Wenlock (Silurian) graptolite biostratigraphy of the Cape Phillips Formation, Canadian Arctic Islands. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 27:113.Google Scholar
M'Coy, F. 1849. On the classification of some British fossil Crustacea, with notices of new forms in the University collection at Cambridge. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 2, 4:161179, 330-335, 392-414.Google Scholar
Miller, J. 1973. Coignouina decora sp. nov. and Carbonocoryphe hahnorum sp. nov. (Trilobita) from a Viséan fissure deposit near Clitheroe, Lancs. Geologica. Magazine, 110:113124.Google Scholar
Novák, O. 1890. Vergleichende Studien an einigen Trilobiten aus dem Hercyn von Bicken, Wildungen, Greifenstein und Böhmen. Paläontologische Abhandlungen, N. F., 1:146.Google Scholar
Osmólska, H. 1957. Trilobites from the Couvinian of Wydryszów (Holy Cross Mts., Poland). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 2:5379.Google Scholar
Over, D. J., and Chatterton, B. D. E. 1987. Silurian conodonts from the southern Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada. Geologica et Palaeontologica, 21:149.Google Scholar
Owens, R. M. 1986. The Carboniferous trilobites of Britain. Part 1. Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society, 26 p.Google Scholar
Owens, R. M., and Hammann, W. 1990. Proetide trilobites from the Cystoid Limestone (Ashgill) of NW Spain, and the suprageneric classification of related forms. Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 64:221244.Google Scholar
Palmer, A. R. 1965. Biomere—a new kind of biostratigraphic unit. Journal of Paleontology, 39:149153.Google Scholar
Palmer, A. R. 1979. Biomere boundaries re-examined. Alcheringa, 3:3341.Google Scholar
Perry, D. G., and Chatterton, B. D. E. 1977. Silurian (Wenlockian) trilobites from Baillie-Hamilton Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 14:285317.Google Scholar
Perry, D. G., and Chatterton, B. D. E. 1979. Wenlock trilobites and brachiopods from the Mackenzie Mountains, north-western Canada. Palaeontology, 22:569607.Google Scholar
Přibyl, A., and Vaněk, J. 1976. Einige neue Taxa der proetiden Trilobiten aus dem mittelböhmischen Silur und Devon. Časopis Národního muzea, přírodovédna, 144:14, 83-88.Google Scholar
Přibyl, A., and Vaněk, J. 1981. Studie zur Morphologie und Phylogenie der Familie Otarionidae R. & E. Richter, 1926 (Trilobita) Palaeontographica, A, 173:160208.Google Scholar
Přibyl, A., Vaněk, J., and Hörbinger, F. 1985. New taxa of Proetacea (Trilobita) from the Silurian and Devonian of Bohemia. Časopis pro mineralogii a geologii, 30:237251.Google Scholar
Ramsköld, L. 1991. Pattern and process in the evolution of the Odontopleuridae (Trilobita). The Selenopeltinae and Ceratocephalinae. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences, 82:143181.Google Scholar
Ramsköld, L., and Werdelin, L. 1991. The phylogeny and evolution of some phacopid trilobites. Cladistics, 7:2974.Google Scholar
Richter, R. 1914. Über das Hypostom und einige Arten der Gattung Cyphaspis. Zentralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, 1914:306317.Google Scholar
Richter, R., and Richter, E. 1926. Die Trilobiten des Oberdevon. Beiträge zur Kenntnis devonischer Trilobiten. IV. Abhandlungen der Preussischen Geologischen Landessandstaldt, 99:1314.Google Scholar
Richter, R., and Richter, E. 1939. Ueber Namuropyge n.g. und dis basisolution der Trilobiten-Glatze. Bulletin du Musée Royal d'Histoire Naturelle de Belgique, 15:129.Google Scholar
Shaw, F. C. 1968. Early Middle Ordovician Chazy trilobites of New York. New York State Museum and Science Service, Memoir 17, 163 p.Google Scholar
Siveter, D. J. 1989. Silurian trilobites from the Annascaul Inlier, Dingle Peninsula, Ireland. Palaeontology, 32:109161.Google Scholar
Šnajdr, M. 1983. Revision of the trilobite type material of I. Hawle and A. J. C. Corda, 1847. Sborník Národního Muzea V Praze, 39B:129212.Google Scholar
Šnajdr, M. 1984. Remarks to Bohemian Silurian otarionine trilobites. Věstník Ústředního ústavu geologického, 59:283289.Google Scholar
Spassky, J. N. 1989. Lower Devonian trilobites of the Novaya Zemlya, p. 117133. In Stratigraphaya i Paleontologya Paleozoya Sovetskoi Arctici. Leningrad, 145 p. [In Russian.]Google Scholar
Strnad, V. 1960. O devonských trilobitech z Horního Benešova II. Přírodovédna Časopis Slezského, 21:335354.Google Scholar
Swofford, D. L. 1989. PAUP, Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony. Version 3.0.Google Scholar
Thomas, A. T. 1978. British Wenlock trilobites, Part 1. Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society, 56 p.Google Scholar
Thomas, A. T., and Owens, R. M. 1978. A review of the trilobite family Aulacopleuridae. Palaeontology, 21:6581.Google Scholar
Thomas, A.Owens, T. R. M., and Šnajdr, M. 1989. Trilobites, p. 248251. In Holland, C. H. and Bassett, M. G. (eds.), A Global Standard for the Silurian System. National Museum of Wales, Geological Series No. 10, Cardiff.Google Scholar
Vogdes, A. W. 1891. On some new Sedalia trilobites. St. Louis Academy of Science Transactions, 5:615618.Google Scholar
Weyer, D. 1965. Etroeungt im Morvan (Zentralfrankreich). Mittelanden der Zentral Geologische Institut, 1:289302.Google Scholar
Whittington, H. B., and Campbell, K. S. W. 1967. Silicified Silurian trilobites from Maine. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard, 135:447483.Google Scholar
Zenker, J. C. 1833. Beiträge zur Naturgesichte der Urwelt. Organische Reste (Petrefacten) aus der Altenburger Braunkohlen-Formation dem Blankenburger Quadersandstein, Jenaischen bunten Sandstein und Böhmischen Uebergangsgebirge. Jena, 67 p.Google Scholar