This integrated dataset provides key morphological, stratigraphic, and palaeogeographic raw data for all species in the brachiopod genera Cathaysia and Paryphella, supporting taxonomic revision and macroevolutionary and paleoecological analyses.

Descriptions

Data-of-the-global-palaeogeographic-distribution-of-Cathaysia-and-Paryphella.csv
This dataset comprises the latest global occurrence data for brachiopod genera Cathaysia and Paryphella before taxonomic revision, downloaded from the Paleobiology Database (PBDB) on 18 May 2023 (https://paleobiodb.org/). The download parameters were: taxa = Cathaysia, Paryphella; time intervals = all; region = all; paleoenvironment = marine. The dataset's 16 field names are described in detail on the official PBDB website (https://paleobiodb.org/data1.2/occs/list#RESPONSE).

 occurrence_no: A positive integer that uniquely identifies the occurrence.
 collection_no: The identifier of the collection with which this occurrence is associated.
 identified_name: The taxonomic name by which this occurrence was identified.
 accepted_name: The value of this field will be the accepted taxonomic name corresponding to the identified name.
 early_interval: The specific geologic time range associated with this occurrence (not necessarily a standard interval), or the interval that begins the range if late_interval is also given.
 late_interval: The interval that ends the specific geologic time range associated with this occurrence, if different from the value of early_interval. A null value in the data indicates uncertainty in the species' late_interval or missing stratigraphic information.
 max_ma: The early bound of the geologic time range associated with this occurrence (in Ma).
 min_ma: The late bound of the geologic time range associated with this occurrence (in Ma).
 cc: The country in which the collection is located.
 state: The state or province in which the collection is located, if known.
 formation: The stratigraphic formation in which the collection is located, if known.
 reference_no: The identifier of the reference from which this data was entered.
 ref_author: The author(s) of the reference from which this data was entered.
 ref_pubyr: The year of publication of the reference from which this data was entered.
 ref_title: The title of the reference from which this data was entered.
 enterer: The name of the person who actually entered this record.

Data-of-the-PCA-of-Cathaysia-and-Paryphella.csv
This dataset contains 298 well-preserved ventral valves from 28 species (before taxonomic revision) belonging to Cathaysia and Paryphella. This includes measurements from 194 specimens clearly illustrated in the published literature, and 104 specimens collected from the Jiupi Formation of the Daxiankeng section, Yangshan, Guangdong Province, South China.
Additionally, this dataset provides the morphological codes for the principal component analysis (PCA) conducted on Cathaysia and Paryphella. It comprises 19 parameters covering the size, outline, and ornamentation of the brachiopod specimens. The coding of parameters was based on their measured values or states. For example, specimens with a shell width of <12 mm are coded as 0, and those ≥12 mm as 1. Similarly, ventral valve convexity is coded as follows: 0 for slightly convex, 1 for moderately convex, and 2 for strongly convex.

 species: Species name.
 W: Maximum shell width.
 L: Maximum shell length.
 WLR: The ratio of shell width to shell length.
 CN: The total number of costellae at the anterior margin.
 DC: Density of costellae. The number of costellae counted per 3 mm at the anterior margin.
 CC: Costellae complexity. 1) costellae simple (no bifurcation or intercalation); 2) costellae rarely bifurcated or intercalated (primary costellae increasing by a single bifurcation or intercalation on half of the shell); 3) costellae commonly bifurcated or intercalated (primary costellae increasing      by two bifurcations, two intercalations, a single bifurcation plus a single intercalation, or by more bifurcations and/or intercalations).
 CW: Relative costellae width. The average width of five costellae at the anterior margin divided by the anterior margin length.
 VC: Ventral valve convexity.
 SU: Shape of umbo.
 UA: Shell umbo angle.
 B: Beak projection beyond the hingeline.
 CA: Cardinal angle. The angle between the hinge line and the posterior margin.
 ES: Relative ear size. The surface area of a single ear divided by the total surface area of the shell's auricular region (comprising both ears and the shell area between them).
 R: Distribution area of rugae.
 EB: Ear baffles. Lateral margins near the ears enrolled dorsally.
 SW: Relative sulcus width. Sulcus width at the anterior margin divided by the maximum width of visceral disc.
 S: Ventral venter spines.
 NE: Nasute extension.
 G: Shell geniculation.
 ref_author: The author(s) of the reference.
 ref_figure: The figure(s) of the reference. A null value in the data indicates a specimen from the Daxiankeng section that was not figured.
 ref_title: The title of the reference.

 Notes: A photograph was taken of each collected specimen from Daxiankeng section to obtain morphological measurements, including costellae width, anterior margin length, ear surface area, total surface area of the shell's auricular region, sulcus width, and visceral disc width. In addition, individuals from existing publications were measured directly from the published plates or figures using the digital caliper in Kingsoft Reader software.

Data-of-the-PCA-of-Cathaysia-species.csv
This dataset comprises the morphological codes for the PCA conducted on 120 ventral valves of Cathaysia species (including those revised at the genus level). The abbreviations, measurement methods, and coding procedure of the parameters in this dataset are consistent with those used in Data-of-the-PCA-of-Cathaysia-and-Paryphella.csv (see above). A null value in the ref_figure column indicates a specimen from the Daxiankeng section that was not figured.

Data-of-the-PCA-of-Paryphella-species.csv
This dataset comprises the morphological codes for the PCA conducted on 178 ventral valves of Paryphella species (including those revised at the genus level). The abbreviations, measurement methods, and coding procedure of the parameters in this dataset are consistent with those used in Data-of-the-PCA-of-Cathaysia-and-Paryphella.csv (see above). A null value in the ref_figure column indicates a specimen from the Daxiankeng section that was not figured.

Data-for-the-calculation-of-body-size-of-Cathaysia-and-Paryphella-in-the-Changhsingian.csv
This dataset comprises raw body size data for Cathaysia and Paryphella (following taxonomic revision) from various depositional environments (including nearshore clastic-shelf, carbonate platform, and deep-water siliceous facies) in the Changhsingian. Body size is defined as the geometric mean of shell width and length (i.e., the square root of the product of shell width and shell length.).

 species: Specie name.
 shell width: Maximum shell width.
 shell length: Maximum shell length.
 geometric mean: The square root of the product of shell width and shell length.
 formation: The stratigraphic formation in which the collection is located.
 facies: The sedimentary facies in which the collection is located.
 ref_author: The author(s) of the reference.
 ref_figure: The figure(s) of the reference. A null value in the data indicates a specimen from the Daxiankeng section that was not figured.
 ref_title: The title of the reference.

Data-for-the-calculation-of-body-size-of-Paryphella-from-the-Changhsingian-to-the-Induan.csv
This dataset comprises raw body size data for all Paryphella species (following taxonomic revision) from various depositional environments across the Changhsingian to the Induan. Body size is defined as the geometric mean of shell width and length. The field name definitions are consistent with those in the dataset Data-for-the-calculation-of-body-size-of-Cathaysia-and-Paryphella-in-the-Changhsingian.csv (see above).

 age: The geological age of the collection.

Data-for-the-calculation-of-body-size-of-Paryphella-orbicularis-from-the-Changhsingian-to-the-Induan.csv
This dataset comprises raw body size data for Paryphella orbicularis (following taxonomic revision) from various depositional environments across the Changhsingian to the Induan. Body size is defined as the geometric mean of shell width and length. The field name definitions are consistent with those in the dataset Data-for-the-calculation-of-body-size-of-Cathaysia-and-Paryphella-in-the-Changhsingian.csv and Data-for-the-calculation-of-body-size-of-Paryphella-from-the-Changhsingian-to-the-Induan.csv (see above).

Data-of-the-stratigraphic-range-and-palaeogeographic-distribution-of-Cathaysia-and-Paryphella.csv
This dataset comprises raw data for the stratigraphic ranges, depositional environments, and palaeogeographic distributions of all Cathaysia and Paryphella species.

 original taxonomic assignment: The taxonomic name originally assigned to the collection. A null value in the data indicates the absence of an original classification.
 current name: The accepted taxonomic name for the collection in this study.
 ref_author: The author(s) of the reference.
 ref_figure: The figure(s) of the reference.
 age: The geological age of the collection. A null value in the data indicates a lack of information regarding geological age.
 formation (location): The stratigraphic formation in which the collection is located (the geographical location from which it was recovered). A null value in the data indicates a lack of information regarding formation and/or location.
 facies: The sedimentary facies in which the collection is located. A null value in the data indicates a lack of information regarding sedimentary facies.
 ref_title: The title of the reference.

Information Sources

 The latest global occurrence data for Cathaysia and Paryphella were derived from the Paleobiology Database.