Upper Ordovician brachiopods from the Anderken Formation, Kazakhstan: their ecology and systematics

Abstract

Synopsis 13Introduction 13Outline of geology and fossil localities 14Faunal Associations 22Overall palaeoecology 26Systematic palaeontology 27Linguloidea 28Discinoidea 28Siphonotretoidea 30Craniopsoidea 30Strophomenoidea 30Plectambonitoidea 38Chilidiopsoidea 53Triplesioidea 53Protorthoidea 58Orthoidea 58Plectorthoidea 61Enteletoidea 64Camarelloidea 64Rhynchotrematoidea 74Lissatrypoidea 76Meristelloidea 76Acknowledgments 77References 77The brachiopod fauna from the Anderken Formation (Lower to Middle Caradoc) of the Chu-Ili Range, south-eastern Kazakhstan, is revised and described systematically. It consists of 62 species in 55 genera, of which the genera Tesikella, Olgambonites and Zhilgyzambonites (all Plectambonitoidea) and Ilistrophina (Camarelloidea) are new, and the species Bellimurina (Bellimurina) sarytumensis, Teratelasmella chugaevae, Foliomena prisca, Acculina kulanketpesica, Dulankarella larga, Kajnaria rugosa, Anoptambonites convexus, Olgambonites insolita, Zhilgyzambonites extenuata, Gacella institata, Placotriplesia spissa, Grammoplecia wrighti, Dolerorthis pristina, Austinella sarybulakensis, Plectorthis? burultasica, Bowanorthis? devexa, Pionodema opima, Parastrophina iliana, Ilistrophina tesikensis, Liostrophia pravula, Plectosyntrophia unicostata, Rhynchotrema akchokense and Nikolaispira guttula are new. Six brachiopod-dominated assemblages are recognised and defined, termed the Ectenoglossa, Tesikella, Mabella–Sowerbyella, Acculina–Dulankarella, Parastrophina–Kellerella and Zhilgyzambonites–Foliomena Associations. The relationships with contemporary faunas are assessed, and the Anderken brachiopods appear to have much in common with those of north-west China.