First report of Chelediscus Rushton, 1966 (Trilobita) from Western Gondwana, with description of a new species from the Cambrian Series 2 of Spain

Abstract

ABSTRACT Chelediscus is reported for the first time from the Cambrian of Western Gondwana. This eodiscide genus is known from the Cambrian Series 2 of England, Newfoundland, New York, Sweden and Russia. An emended diagnosis for the genus is provided, which is here assigned to Calodiscidae, and a new species, Chelediscus garzoni sp. nov. is described. The species comes from Cumbres de San Bartolomé municipality, northern Huelva province (Spain), in the upper part of the ‘Cumbres beds’ formation. This horizon is assigned to the regional upper Marianian Stage based on the trilobite assemblage (Serrodiscus Zone), correlating with the lowermost Cambrian Stage 4. Chelediscus carus Repina from the Botoman of Siberia and this Spanish occurrence are the earliest appearances of the genus. The new species suggests that a smooth, unlobed glabella is primitive for the genus. Chelediscus in Spain strengthens faunal links with Avalonia, Baltica, Siberia and Laurentia. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:32A57670-48E7-470E-B7AD-A0ACACB2E5C6