The Llandovery–Wenlock Syringoporidae from New Brunswick, Canada

Abstract

A large collection of Silurian Syringoporidae, mainly from the Limestone Point and La Vieille formations of northern New Brunswick, includes one new species and three species previously described from this area. Syringopora lambei n. sp. is distinguished from the superficially similar S. bifurcata Lonsdale by its larger corallites with much broader axial tubes and less frequent corallite contacts. Similar problems which have existed in the past in the distinction of S. compacta Billings and S. reteformis Billings can be resolved, as shown in this study, on the basis of the larger, geniculate and densely-packed corallites of S. reteformis. All four species are defined using more quantitative data than has previously been applied to syringoporid taxonomy. A new lectotype for S. compacta is proposed. Recognition of epibionts on a corallum of S. bifurcata as virtually identical to the “epithecal scales” used to distinguish Syringoalcyon Termier and Termier from Syringopora Goldfuss argues strongly against the continued recognition of the former as a separate genus. Preliminary analysis of syringoporid distributions in relation to stratigraphy and sedimentary associations suggests strong facies and paleoenvironmental control on these distributions. For this reason and because of their long stratigraphic ranges, no well-defined biozonal scheme can be proposed at this time.