Anatolepis - a problematic Ordovician vertebrate reinterpreted as an arthropod

J.S Peel,A.K Higgins

doi:10.34194/rapggu.v85.7541

Abstract

The name Anatolepis heintzi was proposed by Bockelie & Fortey (1976) for a series of scale-bearing fragments from the Early Ordovician Valhallfonna Formation, northern Ny Friesland, Spitsbergen. The fragments were interpreted as the remains of heterostracan fishes - the oldest known vertebrates. A few months previously, similar fragments had been figured, but not named, by Nitecki, Gutschick & Repetski (1975) from the Early Ordovician El Paso Group of western Texas. These authors were uncertain as to the affinities of the material at hand but noted an apparent similarity in ornamentation to merostome arthropods described by Raasch (1939) and other authors.

Highlights

The name Anatolepis heintzi was proposed by Bockelie & Fortey (1976) for a series of scale-bearing fragments from the Early Ordovician Valhallfonna Formation, northern Ny Friesland, Spitsbergen
The limestone samples (GGU 236425, GGU 236426) were collected by AKH during August 1976 from the upper part ofthe Cape Weber Formation exposed along Narhval Sund to the south-east ofAntiklinalbugt, on the south-west coast ofElla ø, central East Greenland (by the base of the 35° dip arrow on Plate X of Cowie & Adams, (957)
Preliminary examination of the conodont fauna (Including scolopodids and Bergstroemognathus) suggests a Late Canadian (Iate Early Ordovician) age, in accordance with that previously indicated by Cowie & Adams (1957)

Summary

Introduction

The name Anatolepis heintzi was proposed by Bockelie & Fortey (1976) for a series of scale-bearing fragments from the Early Ordovician Valhallfonna Formation, northern Ny Friesland, Spitsbergen. The geological similarity between rock types and faunas from the Early Ordovician ofNy Friesland and central East Greenland is well established (Fortey & Bruton, (973). It was not totally surprising when preliminary processing of samples of Early Ordovician limestones from central East Greenland produced fragments ofA-natolepis similar to those from Spitsbergen.

Results

Conclusion