Pelecyogyra (Mollusca) from the Early Ordovician of the Montagne Noire, France

Abstract

A new occurrence of the onychochilid mollusc Pelecyogyra is reported from the late Floian Landeyran Formation (Apatokephalus incisus Biozone) in the Montagne Noire, southern France, where it is associated with the two tergomyans Carcassonnella courtessolei and Thoralispira laevis, and a mollusc indet. With a low cap-shaped shell. The Montagne Noire specimens compare morphologically with Pelecyogyra fezouataensis from the late Tremadocian Fezouata Formation (Araneograptus murrayi Biozone) in Morocco and are tentatively referred to this species. Each occurrence of Pelecyogyra is from one or two localities only, but separated in time. They differ further in the deeper facies, association with Carcassonnella and Thoralispira, and non-gregarious occurrence in Montagne Noire compared to the shallower facies, lack of other molluscs and gregarious occurrence in the Fezouata Formation. In the Lower Ordovician, Pelecyogyra, Carcassonnella courtessolei, the rare C. vizcainoi and Thoralispira laevis are taxa that occur only in Montage Noire and the Anti-Atlas, while Lesueurilla prima also occurs in the Prague basin of the Czech Republic. Contrary to other faunal elements, like echinoderms and trilobites, these genera seem to have a wide environmental tolerance and are long ranging taxa. The main occurrence of the three key taxa Carcassonnella, Thoralispira and Lesueurilla in the Montagne Noire is in the lower part of the La Maurerie Formation (Taihungshania miqueli acme Zone), while the same taxa appear just slightly later in Morocco (?Cymatograptus protobalticus Biozone). Migration to the Anti-Atlas during the early Floian seems to have been possible during a period of general faunal exchange. Pelecyogyra may either have migrated from the Anti-Atlas to Montagne Noire during the same interval or possibly during the late Floian as indicated by shared faunal elements between these two regions at that time.