Early Cambrian hyoliths from the Brigus Formation of Avalonian Newfoundland

Abstract

The Lower Cambrian (Placentian–Branchian Series) of Avalonian southeastern Newfoundland contains one of the most diverse and best-preserved assemblages of Early Cambrian hyoliths from the North American continent. Primary type, topotype and hypotype specimens from the Brigus Formation collected in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are herein emended or newly recognized as Nevadotheca excellens, Levinoconus florencei gen. et sp. nov., Brigoconus greavesi gen. et sp. nov., Poutinella crispenae gen. et sp. nov., Toutonella chaddockae gen. et sp. nov., and Holmitheca quadricostata. Other less complete material is assigned to Aimitus sp., Dorsolinevitus? sp., Grantitheca? sp., Tizilites spp. 1 and 2, Hyolithidan spp. 1–8, and Opercula A–E. Biogeographical connections of the Avalonian species to Baltica, Laurentia, East Gondwanan South Australia, and the Siberian Platform are reinforced. The temporal distribution for most of these taxa remains unchanged except for Tizilites and Dorsolinevitus, which were previously known only from either the top of Cambrian Stage 4 or the Lower–Middle Ordovician, respectively.

John M. Malinky [[email protected]], Department of Physical Science, San Diego City College, 1313 Park Boulevard, San Diego CA 92101 (retired), Gerd Geyer [[email protected]], Lehrstuhl für Geodynamik und Geomaterialforschung, Institut für Geographie und Geologie, Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.

Keywords:

• Avalonia
• hyoliths
• Lower Cambrian
• Newfoundland
• palaeobiogeography
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We thank K. Hollis (USNM) for access to collections, and M. Florence, D. Levin and W. Brindle (USNM) for logisticals; L. Chaddock and N. Crispen (San Diego City College). D. McAlpine (New Brunswick Museum of Geology), and N. Oliver (PaleoWest) supported our project. Photography and logistics were provided by M. Stimson (New Brunswick Museum of Geology). E. Landing (Albany, NY) provided valuable information on localities. Careful and constructive reviews were contributed by J.S. Peel (Uppsala University) and M. Valent (National Museum in Prague).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).