Provincialism of the late Middle through middle Late Cambrian paraconodonts and protoconodonts

Abstract

Quantitative paleoprovincialism is studied, using a coefficient of similarity (CS) formula. The results indicate that the provincialism of the late Middle through middle Late Cambrian paraconodonts and protoconodonts did exist. The provincialism of Ordovician conodonts can be traced back to late Middle Cambrian. The North China Province and South China Province can be recognized in late Middle Cambrian, whereas the North China Province, South China Province and Balitca Province can be recognized respectively in early Late Cambrian and middle Late Cambrian. The possibility that the larger units of provincialism, i.e. Faunal Regions existed in the areas mentioned above is discussed. It is inferred that the Midcontinent Faunal Region and the Atlantic Faunal Region had existed in early Late Cambrian and middle Late Cambrian. The North China Province was the secondary unit of provincialism in the Midcontinent Faunal Region, while the Baltica Province was that in the Atlantic Faunal Region. The South China Province is the secondary unit of provincialism between the two largest units of provincialism. Moreover, the comparison with the trilobite provincialism which has been accumulated on a solid basis of research is made, and the paleogeographic positions of North China Massif, South China Massif and Tarim Massif are revised.