First Palaeozoic Phyllocarid Crustaceans and Pterygotid Eurypterids in Serbia

Abstract

Palaeozoic phyllocarid crustaceans and pterygotid eurypterids from the Gethicum Zone of Carpatho-Balkanides in Serbia are herein documented for the first time. The described and illustrated phyllocarid remains consisting of a coupled telson and furcal rami were collected from upper Silurian (?) shale. This specimen is fragmented and poorly preserved to allow identification to species level, and has thus been assigned to Ceratiocaris sp. indet. The eurypterids are represented by part of a fragment, showcasing the distinct scale-like ornamentation of the pterygotids, and a segment of a walking leg. The pterygotid remains were found together with a few graptolite taxa (Monograptus sudeticus Porębska, “M.” microdon microdon Reinh. Richter, Neomonograptus aequabilis (Přibyl), Uncinatograptus hercynicus (Perner), U. subhercynicus (Willefert)), which are characteristic for the lower part of the U. hercynicus graptolite zone (Lochkovian, Lower Devonian). There are at least two species in this stratigraphic interval that correspond to the pterygotid eurypterids remains from Serbia – Acutiramis perneri Chlupáč and Pterygotus cf. barrandei Semper, but without the chelicerae, it is impossible to make precise identification. These new finds from eastern Serbia, together with the Bulgarian ones, are a further confirmation of peri-Gondwanan origin of pre-Variscan Palaeozoic sediments in the West Srednogorie Unit in Bulgaria and in the Gethicum Unit in Serbia.