Revisiting the molluscan fauna from the Cambrian (Series 2, stages 3–4) Xinji Formation of North China

Abstract

AbstractA diverse group of molluscs from the Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4 Xinji Formation of the North China Block (NCB) is described, based on more than 4500 specimens from three well‐studied sections in Shaanxi and Henan provinces, along the southern and southwestern margin of theNCB. Twenty molluscan species are identified, including one bivalve, three stem group gastropods, and 16 additional helcionelloids. Among these, six helcionelloid species are reported from theNCBfor the first time, and one new species,Parailsanella luonanensissp. nov. is proposed. This diverse molluscan fauna shares a large number of species with contemporaneous faunas of South Australia (15), Antarctica (7), Laurentia (6), Siberia (3) and South China (1). Faunal similarities are even greater on a generic level. The striking similarities of the molluscan faunas of North China, South Australia and Antarctica strongly support the hypothesis that theNCBwas situated close to Eastern Gondwana, most likely close to South Australia in the Cambrian Epoch 2. In addition, well‐preserved shell attachment muscle scars were observed in the helcionelloidFigurina figurina, with two pairs of symmetrical, continuous, band‐like muscle scars, which are obviously different from the musculature of both gastropods and monoplacophorans. Because of this unique musculature, these characteristic Cambrian cap‐like molluscs are assigned to the Helcionelloida rather than to the Gastropoda or Monoplacophora.