The Burlingiidae (Trilobita): revised generic composition, stratigraphy, and the first species from the early Middle Cambrian of West Gondwana

Abstract

A single specimen of a new genus and species of the trilobite family Burlingiidae from the lower part of the Middle Cambrian in Morocco augments both the geographic distribution to the Cambrian continent West Gondwana and the modern continent Africa and the stratigraphic range of the family to base of the Middle Cambrian. A reconsideration of species assigned to Schmalenseeia requires a revision of the genus. Schmalenseeia acutangula Westergård, 1948, previously discussed as atypical for the genus Schmalenseeia, is separated as the type species of the new genus Niordilobites, and its characters and relation to the other Burlingiidae are discussed. Schmalenseeia jagoi Whittington, 1994 is discussed to differ from Schmalenseeia and Burlingia as well and is raised to the type species of Alumenella n. gen. Schmalenseeia fusilis Peng et al., 2004, unique because of the fusion of its tagmata, is the type species of the new genus Pengia. Burlingia laevis Westergård, 1936 is retained as a distinct species, and its suggested synonymy with Burlingia hectori is challenged. Additional discussions deal with a clarification of its stratigraphic origin, the possible origin of the clade, and morphological developments.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:79F59028-5C03-4AF5-891D-F08B6FECAC81