Crinoid Fauna Research Articles

An echinoderm Lagerstätte from the Upper Ordovician (Katian), Ontario: taxonomic re-evaluation and description of new dicyclic camerate crinoids

AbstractThe Upper Ordovician (lower Katian) Bobcaygeon and Verulam formations from the Lake Simcoe region of Ontario contain a highly diverse echinoderm assemblage that is herein recognized as a Konservat-Lagerstätte. Although fossil crinoids have long been recognized from these formations, the fauna has not received a comprehensive taxonomic evaluation since Springer’s classic 1911 monograph. Recent extensive collection and preparation of new material from the Bobcaygeon and Verulam formations near Brechin, Ontario recovered numerous exceptionally preserved crinoid specimens with arms, stems, and attachment structures intact. The Brechin Lagerstätte is the most taxonomically diverse Katian crinoid fauna, with more than 20 crinoid genera represented in this collection.Here, all dicyclic crinoids belonging to subclass Camerata from the Brechin Lagerstätte are evaluated. The following four genera and seven species are described from the fauna, including one new genus and four new species:Reteocrinus stellaris,Reteocrinus alveolatus,Archaeocrinus sundayaen. sp.,Archaeocrinus maraensisn. sp.,Priscillacrinus elegansn. gen. n. sp.,Cleiocrinus regius, andCleiocrinus lepidotusn. sp. The exceptional preservation of this collection provides an opportunity to describe more fully the morphologic and ontogenetic details of known Ordovician crinoid taxa, to conduct a taxonomic re-evaluation of many species, to describe new taxa, and to provide a framework for subsequent studies of crinoid community paleoecology.UUID:http://zoobank.org/e3e268a7-88e5-43cd-84ea-b40df45e8281

Crinoids (Crinoidea, Echinodermata) from the Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of eastern Poland: a case study from the Żebrak IG 1 borehole

A taxonomic account of the Callovian crinoid fauna from the Żebrak IG 1 borehole (eastern Poland) is presented. The assemblage contains numerous isocrinid ossicles (Isocrinidae) assigned to the following taxa: Isocrinus cf. nicoleti (Desor), Isocrinus sp., Chariocrinus andreae (Desor), Balanocrinus cf. subteres (Münster in Goldfuss) and Pentacrinites sp. These isocrinids are associated with a few ossicles of cyrtocrinids (Cyrtocrinida; Cyrtocrinida indet.). The crinoid remains are poorly preserved; they all are isolated ossicles, showing broken margins and/or abraded surfaces. Such a state of preservation documents a long distance of transportation and/or re-deposition in a high-energy, shallow-water setting. The crinoid assemblage differs significantly from those of southern Poland (the Polish Jura Chain and the Mesozoic margin of the Holy Cross Mountains), in which sessile crinoids, such as cyrtocrinids (Cyrtocrinida), inhabiting mostly deeper-water carbonate facies, are predominant.

The oldest iocrinid crinoids from the Early/Middle Ordovician of China: Possible paleogeographic implications

This study reports new crinoid material, which is identified as Muicrinus dawanensis new genus and new species from South China, representing the oldest known iocrinid in the world. These new fossils, which are characterized by bearing simple primibrachials and a helically coiled column, are from the lower-middle part of the Dawan Formation, which ranges from the upper Floian (Lower Ordovician) to the lower Dapingian (Middle Ordovician) (∼470 Ma). A total of 11 related taxa with 80 characters were selected to conduct phylogenetic analyses. Our results indicated that South China specimens are closely related to ones that are endemic to Laurentia. Synapomorphies shared between species in those two cratons include elongate supraradial plates and isotomous arm branching. Furthermore, the phylogenetic closeness of endemic taxa that only occurred in two cratons leads us to suggest a geographic connection between those regions during deep time. Combining biogeographic evidence reported from Cambrian studies, this study supports the “missing-link” configuration of Rodinia during the breakup phase. Based on the crinoid global biodiversity pattern updated here, the potential for discovery of new Paleozoic crinoid faunas in China is very high.

New crinoids from the Baltic region (Estonia): fossil tip‐dating phylogenetics constrains the origin and Ordovician–Silurian diversification of the Flexibilia (Echinodermata)

AbstractThis study documents previously unknown taxonomic and morphological diversity among early Palaeozoic crinoids. Based on highly complete, well preserved crown material, we describe two new genera from the Ordovician and Silurian of the Baltic region (Estonia) that provide insight into two major features of the geological history of crinoids: the early evolution of the flexible clade during the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (GOBE), and their diversification history surrounding the end‐Ordovician mass extinction. The unexpected occurrence of a highly derived sagenocrinid, Tintinnabulicrinus estoniensis gen. et. sp. nov., from Upper Ordovician (lower Katian) rocks of the Baltic palaeocontinent provides high‐resolution temporal, taxonomic and palaeobiogeographical constraints on the origin and early evolution of the Flexibilia. The Silurian (lower Rhuddanian, Llandovery) Paerticrinus arvosus gen. et sp. nov. is the oldest known Silurian crinoid from Baltica and thus provides the earliest Baltic record of crinoids following the aftermath of the end‐Ordovician mass extinction. A Bayesian ‘fossil tip‐dating’ analysis implementing the fossilized birth–death process and a relaxed morphological clock model suggests that flexibles evolved c. 3 million years prior to their oldest fossil record, potentially involving an ancestor–descendant relationship (via ‘budding’ cladogenesis or anagenesis) with the paraphyletic cladid Cupulocrinus. The sagenocrinid subclade rapidly diverged from ‘taxocrinid’ grade crinoids during the final stages of the GOBE, culminating in maximal diversity among Ordovician crinoid faunas on a global scale. Remarkably, diversification patterns indicate little taxonomic turnover among flexibles across the Late Ordovician mass extinction. However, the elimination of closely related clades may have helped pave the way for their subsequent Silurian diversification and increased ecological role in post‐Ordovician Palaeozoic marine communities. This study highlights the significance of studies reporting faunas from undersampled palaeogeographical regions for clade‐based phylogenetic studies and improving estimates of global biodiversity through geological time.

Filling the Gondwanan gap: paleobiogeographic implications of new crinoids from the Castillejo and Fombuena formations (Middle and Upper Ordovician, Iberian Chains, Spain)

AbstractA diverse crinoid fauna is described from the Upper Ordovician (Katian) Fombuena Formation from the eastern Iberian Chains of Spain. New crinoids include the diplobathrid cameratesFombuenacrinus nodulusn. gen. n. sp.,Goyacrinus gutierrezin. gen. n. sp.,Dalicrinus hammannin. gen. n. sp., andAmbonacrinus decorusn. gen. n. sp.; the monobathrid camerateEopatelliocrinus hispaniensisn. sp.; and the cladidPicassocrinus villasin. gen. n. sp. A new occurrence ofHeviacrinus melendeziGil Cid, Domínguez Alonso, and Silván Pobes, 1996 is also documented from the Castillejo Formation (Darriwilian, Middle Ordovician) from the eastern Iberian Chains of Spain. The Fombuena Formation comprises a Gondwanan crinoid assemblage from a high paleolatitude and has the highest crinoid diversity of any currently known Katian Gondwanan fauna. This assemblage is compared to other Katian age faunas around the globe, and its paleobiogeographic implications are discussed.

Llandovery (early Silurian) crinoids from Hiiumaa Island, western Estonia

AbstractRhuddanian crinoid faunas are poorly known globally, making this new fauna from the Hilliste Formation of western Estonian especially significant. The Hilliste fauna is the oldest Silurian fauna known from the Baltica paleocontinent, thus this is the first example of the crinoid recovery fauna after the Late Ordovician mass extinction. Hiiumaacrinus vinni n. gen. n. sp., Protaxocrinus estoniensis n. sp., Eomyelodactylus sp., calceocrinids, and five holdfast types are reported here. Although the fauna has relatively few taxa, it is among the most diverse Rhuddanian faunas known. Similar to other Rhuddanian crinoid faunas elsewhere, the Hilliste crinoid fauna contains crinoids belonging the Dimerocrinitidae, Taxocrinidae, Calceocrinidae, and Myelodactylidae; most elements of the new fauna are quite small, perhaps indicative of the Lilliput Effect.

Neogene crinoids of southeast Asia: preservation, systematics and significance

Donovan, S.K. & Helwerda, R.A., August 2016. Neogene crinoids of southeast Asia: preservation, systematics and significance. Alcheringa 41, xxx–xxx. ISSN 0311-5518.The Cenozoic record of fossil crinoids is poor. In part, this is because the stalked taxa have moved into deep water (>100–150 m water depth) since the Cretaceous, but also results from the propensity for the crinoid endoskeleton to disarticulate soon after death. Despite this, we report two new, small crinoid faunas of moderate diversity from the Pliocene of East Kalimantan and the Philippines. Included taxa are columnals of the isocrinid Metacrinus? sp.; a bourgueticrinid cup and columnal, Democrinus? sp.; and cirral and brachial ossicles (isocrinids and comatulids). The preservation of these Pliocene crinoids is not conducive to classification to the level of species, although some taxa are easier to determine than others, but the precise reason for this dearth of complete specimens remains uncertain. Because of our knowledge of extant crinoids, this Cenozoic ‘gap’ has been poorly appreciated. Rather than denigrating the Pliocene crinoids documented herein for being fragmentary and difficult to accurately determine, we instead report them as a rare set of data points, filling, in part, the Cenozoic ‘gap’.Stephen K. Donovan [steve.donovan@naturalis.nl] and Renate Helwerda [renate.helwerda@naturalis.nl], Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. Received 03.05.2016; revised 16.06.2016; accepted 21.6.2016.

DISTRIBUTION OF SHALLOW-WATER CRINOIDS NEAR SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA

The fauna of unstalked crinoids (Echinodermata) near Santa Marta, Colombia, is unique in the tropical western Atlantic in both species diversity and population size. Seven species have been observed at depths above 36 m. A field key to these species is presented. The distribution and abundance of these species in the Santa Marta region suggest that the ridiest populations are located on the leeward sides of headlands and islands. Local upwelling in the region may be partly responsible for the richness of the crinoid fauna.

A review of Ordovician crinoids from France: New data from the Darriwilian of the Armorican Massif and palaeobiogeographic implications

All known occurrences of crinoids in the Ordovician of France (Armorican Massif, Montagne Noire, Corbières and Pyrénées) are reviewed and replaced stratigraphically. Fully articulated crinoids are described for the first time in the Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician) of the Armorican Massif. The disparid crinoid Heviacrinus melendezi is reported from the middle and late Darriwilian (artus and teretiusculus zones) of both Brittany and Normandy, which extends both its geographic distribution and its temporal range. In addition, a new species of Heviacrinus, H. tromelini is described from the late Darriwilian (teretiusculus zone) of both Brittany and Normandy. Finally, three successive French Ordovician crinoid faunas are identified. They show strong palaeobiogeographic affinities with other Gondwanan and peri-Gondwanan assemblages, and in particular with those of the Mediterranean Province.

Crinoids from Svalbard in the aftermath of the end−Permian mass extinction

AbstractThe end-Permian mass extinction constituted a major event in the history of crinoids. It led to the demise of the major Paleozoic crinoid groups including cladids, disparids, flexibles and camerates. It is widely accepted that a single lineage, derived from a late Paleozoic cladid ancestor (Ampelocrinidae), survived this mass extinction. Holocrinid crinoids (Holocrinus, Holocrinida) along with recently described genus Baudicrinus (Encrinida), the only crinoid groups known from the Early Triassic, are considered the stem groups for the post-Paleozoic monophyletic subclass Articulata. Here, we report preliminary data on unexpectedly diverse crinoid faunas comprising at least four orders from the Lower Triassic (Induan and Olenekian) of Svalbard, extending their stratigraphic ranges deeper into the early Mesozoic. These findings strongly imply that the recovery of crinoids in the aftermath of the end-Permian extinction began much earlier at higher palaeolatitudes than in the central Tethys.

The stalked crinoid fauna (Echinodermata) of the Molucca and Celebes Seas, Indonesia: taxonomic diversity and observations from remotely operated vehicle imagery

The seafloor of the Molucca and Celebes Seas, Indonesia, was investigated using a remotely operated vehicle with high-definition video during 18 dives to depths of 280 to 3200 m. Irregular slopes and rocky substrata supported abundant megabenthos, including stalked crinoids. Video zoomed on many individuals provided enough details to assign 770 stalked crinoids to major taxa and many to species level. These taxa included Guillecrinus neocaledonicus, Ptilocrinus cf. amezianeae, three species of Hyocrinus, an unknown phrynocrinid, Naumachocrinus hawaiiensis, Proisocrinus ruberrimus, Endoxocrinus alternicirrus, seven phenotypes in the Subfamily Metacrininae and one taxon of unknown affiliation. A novel observation of a juvenile Endoxocrinus included the attachment disk to a rocky surface. Taxa usually considered rare were well represented on hard substrata, thus expanding knowledge of their depth distributions. Mostly, stalked crinoids were sparsely distributed in low densities (to 186 individuals per km), except for occasional single-species clusters. Metacrinins and P. cf. amezianeae dominated at depths of 250–600 m, while E. alternicirrus and G. neocaledonicus were the most abundant species at a depth range of 1000–1400 m. The largest peak of species richness (with nine of the 17 taxa identified) occurred at 1000 to 2000 m. Many specimens altered their feeding posture with current intensity, but a balloon-like crown posture is common in low or non-existent currents. The postures of several mobile metacrinin individuals suggest an active role of arms and cirri in slow crawling movements. The possible origin of some taxa from either Gondwanaland or Eurasian margins is discussed using biogeographical and paleontological data. The location of the Wallace line cannot be delimited only using extant stalked crinoid distribution.

Sympatric cryptic species in the crinoid genus Cenolia (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comasteridae) delineated by sequence and microsatellite markers

The marine species of the southern coast of Australia have not been well studied with regard to molecular connectivity. Cryptic species are expected to be prevalent on this coastline. Here, we investigate the crinoid genus Cenolia (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comasteridae) using molecular methods to elucidate cryptic species and phylogenetic relationships. The genus Cenolia dominates the southern Australian crinoid fauna in shallow waters. Few studies have examined crinoids for cryptic species at a molecular level and these have been predominantly based on mitochondrial data. We employ the nuclear markers 28S rRNA and ITS-2 in addition to the mitochondrial COI. Six divergent mitochondrial clades were identified. Gene flow between confirmed clades was subsequently examined by the use of six novel microsatellite markers, showing that sympatric taxa with low mtDNA divergences (1.7% K2P) were not interbreeding in the wild. The type specimens of Cenolia benhami and C. spanoschistum were examined, as well as all six divergent clades. Morphological characters dividing taxa were refined. Due to comb pinnule morphology, the New Zealand species benhami was determined to belong to the genus Oxycomanthus (nov. comb.). Three new species of Cenolia (including the Australian “benhami”) require description.

SIDERITE CONCRETIONS IN THE COPAN CRINOID LAGERSTATTE (UPPER PENNSYLVANIAN, OKLAHOMA): IMPLICATIONS FOR INTERPRETING TAPHONOMIC AND DEPOSITIONAL PROCESSES IN MUDSTONE SUCCESSIONS

A thin interval of bioturbated, fossiliferous mudstone within the middle portion of the Upper Pennsylvanian Barnsdall Formation crops out near Copan, northeastern Oklahoma. Representing slow background sedimentation in an oxygenated distal shelf setting, this exposure has yielded an exceptionally diverse and well-preserved crinoid fauna consisting of over 1200 articulated or partially articulated specimens. The interval is also characterized by abundant siderite concretions, present as four morphologies. Large concretions without a distinct skeletal nucleus are located in thin horizons containing abundant articulated crinoids; these indicate sediment starvation on the shelf. Also in these thin, crinoid-bearing units are extremely localized siderite concretions precipitated around sites where soft tissues would have been volumetrically more abundant within large macrofossils, notably tegmina and proximal arms of articulated crinoids, indicating extremely rapid burial events that episodically punctuated the sediment-starved conditions. Small concretions, generally <60 mm in diameter and commonly precipitated around endobenthic-fossil nuclei, are located in thicker units with few articulated crinoids. These indicate higher sedimentation rates and thicker individual burial events. Sideritized large-diameter burrows with sharply defined walls indicate firmer substrates created by minor erosive events. These are located in the thicker units alongside the smaller concretions and indicate higher-energy storm events than those represented in the thinner, crinoid-bearing units. Collectively, the evidence provided by siderite concretion morphologies and their relationships to macrofossil preservation demonstrate that the Copan crinoid Lagerstatte formed through periods of sediment starvation occasionally interrupted by distal storm events. These periods alternated with intervals of increased sedimentation and more violent storms.

A New List of Cuban Crinoids (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)

This review is based on the most recent taxonomic classification of extant Cuban Crinoidea. Existing material in natural history collections in Cuba was analyzed in detail and accurately reflects species presence. The crinoid literature was also reviewed. Several previously unpublished observations of species found in waters off Cuba have also been included. This paper provides the most up to date description of the Cuban crinoid fauna. Habitat, distribution, depth range and localities in Cuba are reported for each species. Collection codes for available specimens are included when known. The work describes a total of 33 species (plus two subspecies) in 20 genera and 10 families representing three of the four living orders of the Class Crinoidea.

Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) crinoids of the Hidas Valley (Mecsek Mountains, S Hungary) and their biogeographic significance

The Bathonian crinoid fauna that occurs in red nodular limestone and argillaceous limestones from the Hidas Valley, Mecsek Mts (southern Hungary) consists of three isocrinid and six cyrtocrinid species. Isocrinids are represented by Balanocrinus inornatus (d’Orbigny), B. berchteni Hess and Pugin and Balanocrinus sp. Cyrtocrinids are represented by Phyllocrinus stellaris Zareczny, P. birkenmajeri Gluchowski, P. malbosianus d’Orbigny, Apsidocrinus sp., Lonchocrinus sp., and the new species Psalidocrinus hidasinus sp. nov. This last species is the earliest occurrence of the genus Psalidocrinus previously known from the Early Tithonian to Valanginian. This is the first crinoid fauna described from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of Hungary. The co-occurrence of isocrinids and cyrtocrinids indicates an environment subject to weak currents. The stratigraphical and geographical distribution of the identified cyrtocrinid genera and species suggests a Tethyan origin and subsequent migration to the northern Tethyan shelf.

Camerate crinoids from the Nunn Member (Tournaisian, Osagean) of the Lower Mississippian Lake Valley Formation, New Mexico

The Nunn Member (early Osagean) of the Lake Valley Formation of New Mexico is known for its abundance and diversity of crinoids. Although crinoids were first reported in the late 1800s, no comprehensive study of the crinoids has been conducted and a complete list of the crinoid taxa does not exist. All subclasses of crinoids occur in the Lake Valley, but the camerates are by far the dominant group. Study of the Macurda collection from the University of Michigan, the Laudon collection from the University of New Mexico, and new collections provided more than 7000 specimens, 4,500 of which were identifiable camerates. Sixty-one species of camerates are recognized in the Nunn Member, including five new species: Blairocrinus macurdai, Iotacrinus novamexicanus, Agaricocrinus alamogordoensis, Uperocrinus kuesi, and Collicrinus laudoni. This camerate fauna is very similar to that of the lower Burlington Limestone of the Mississippi Valley. An update of the crinoid taxa in the Lake Valley Formation allows for a better understanding of the temporal and geographic relationships of crinoid faunas across North American during the Early Mississippian when camerates were at their global diversity maximum. The majority of the camerates come from the western New Mexico outcrops where the Nunn Member is thicker and the marine shelf was shallower, but several also occur in association with the deep-water Waulsortian mounds.

Echinoderms from the Lower Devonian (Emsian) of Bolivia (Malvinokaffric Realm)

Crinoid faunas from the Lower Devonian of South America are poorly known. Two new taxa are described from the Emsian Icla Formation at Cerro Kochis in the Cochabamba Department: the rhodocrinitid, Lutocrinus boliviaensis n. gen. n. sp. and Griphocrinus pirovanoi n. sp. Two additional camerates are reported from the Emsian Belèn Formation of the Altiplano region in the La Paz Department, including Ctenocrinus branisai n. sp. and Boliviacrinus isaacsoni McIntosh, 1988. In addition, a specimen of the blastoid, Pachyblastus dicki Bremier and Macurda, 1972, was recovered from the Altiplano region. These crinoids and material previously collected by Leonardo Branisa, including specimens of C. branisai n. sp., Apurocrinus sucrei McIntosh, 1981, B. isaacsoni McIntosh, 1988, and L. boliviaensis n. sp., are described and revised. The specimens give new insights into the Lower Devonian Malvinokaffric Realm of Bolivia, a relatively new frontier in crinoid paleontology.

&lt;strong&gt;New data on Carboniferous crinoids from the Moscow Region*&lt;/strong&gt;

Despite more than 150 years of study of crinoids from the Moscow Region there are numerous undescribed taxa from well-known localities as well as others from poorly known localities. In recent years, through the acquisition of new collections as well as new discoveries, the holdings of Carboniferous crinoids of the Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Science have been greatly increased. This has allowed a more detailed study of the faunas, which is in pro­gress. Among the crinoids in the collection there are representatives of the family Pirasocrinidae Moore &amp; Laudon, 1943, that are abundant in the Pennsylvanian of the USA, and previously unknown in the Carboniferous of the Moscow Region, as well as representatives of the genera Allosocrinus Strimple, 1949, Cibolocrinus Weller, 1909 and Elibatocrinus Moore, 1940, also previously unknown in the Moscow Region. There is also the first recognized Pennsylvanian member of the family Taxocrinidae Angelin, 1878. The stratigraphic distribution of the most common crinoids from the Carboniferous of the Moscow Region is compiled. The crinoid faunas that characterize the Upper Carboniferous Substages are described. They are represented by at least four crinoid faunas (Myachkovian, Khamovnikian, Dobryatinian and Noginskian) which are named respectively for the Substages name. The most typical crinoids of these faunas are mentioned, including unde­scribed forms. All previously described valid species of crinoids from the Carboniferous of the Moscow Region are listed.

An Early Permian crinoid fauna from Crete*

Early Permian crinoids are reported from a small cape at Bali, north central Crete, Greece. The specimens have undergone low-grade metamorphism, but are moderately well preserved. At the generic level the fauna shows greatest affinity with North American faunas and secondarily with Timor faunas. This is the first Paleozoic crinoid fauna reported from Greece.New taxa introduced are: Synbathocrinus cretensis n. sp., Apographiocrinus nodosus n. sp., Pyndaxocrinus granulatus n. sp., Protencrinus baliensis n. sp., and Artichthyocrinus koenigi n. sp.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Crinoid diversity in the Upper Cretaceous Yezo Supergroup, Hokkaido, northern Japan*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

New data, principally from ‘local’ encrinites in the Yezo Supergroup of Hokkaido, northern Japan, suggest that many relict ‘Jurassic-type faunas’ identified in Europe and central Japan might have persisted in the Late Cretaceous deep-water (&gt; 100 m) muddy sandstone facies found throughout the island of Hokkaido. For example, Isocrinus and Balanocrinus occur in the outer shelf sandy mudstone facies of the Turonian-Coniacian Saku Formation and the Coniacian- Campanian Haborogawa Formation, of the Mikasa area (central Hokkaido), respectively. Isocrinus is also found in the Turonian-Coniacian deep-water siltstones and sandy siltstones of the Nishi-chirashinai Formation of the Nakagawa area (northern Hokkaido). In contrast, Isselicrinus, which belongs to ‘Late Cretaceous type-faunas’, occurs in the uppermost Creta­ceous (Campanian) outer shelf mudstone facies of the Upper Yezo Supergroup around Hobetsu (south-central Hokkaido). Although collections of crinoids from the chalks of northern Europe are themselves largely free from sampling biases, Cretaceous crinoid diversity data have been markedly influenced by fossils preserved in the relatively homogeneous chalk facies where the faunal differences between the deep-water Danish, English and north German chalks (&gt; 250 m) and the shallow-water facies found around Maastricht, the Netherlands (&lt; 50 m) are slight. The results of this preliminary report on the crinoid faunas of Hokkaido suggest that global crinoid diversity reported from the Upper Cretaceous might be influenced by sampling and facies biases.