Middle Devonian Crinoids from the Parnaiba Basin (Pimenteira Formation, Tocantins State, Brazil)

Abstract

This contribution presents the first description of crinoids from western margin of Parnaíba Basin. It also presents their first description in the Pimenteira Formation (Devonian of the Parnaíba Basin, state of Tocantins, Brazil). The material is represented by hundreds of columnals, pluricolumnals, as well as isolated calyx plates. Columnal and pluricolumnal morphology allowed the identification of Laudonomphalus aff. L. tuberosus, and Exaesiodiscus dimerocrinosus n. sp. Based upon calyx plate morphology a new Rhodocrinitidae species was erected, Monstrocrinus incognitus n. sp. The genera Exaesiodiscus, Laudonomphalus, and Monstrocrinus were previously described from the Devonian of Amazonas Basin. Exaesiodiscus dimerocrinosus is also identified from the northwest margin of Paraná Basin. The Monstrocrinus occurrence is rare in the Middle Devonian, until now known in Germany, Spain, and Algeria Lower Devonian (upper Emsian) and only in northern Brazil in the Middle Devonian (Eifelian.) These facts provide valuable arguments for paleogeographic interpretations regarding the pattern of distribution of invertebrates in this region of Gondwana and suggest potential migration routes in northern Gondwana during the Devonian.