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Dryad

Measurements of Silurian brachiopod specimens from the Pentland Hills, Scotland

Data files

Feb 09, 2024 version files 89.52 KB

Abstract

The abundant and diverse brachiopod fauna from the Silurian (upper Llandovery-lower Wenlock) rocks of the Pentland Hills is described within its geographical stratigraphical context. The majority of species are described in detail, discussed and illustrated. A total of 53 species attributable to the following superfamilies are present (numbers of species, including those in open nomenclature, in parentheses):  Linguloidea (7), Craniopsoidea (1), Discinoidea (4), Strophomenoidea (9), Plectambonitoidea (2), Chonetoidea (1), Childiopsoidea (2), Skenidioidea (1), Dalmanelloidea (3), Pentameroidea (2), Rhynchonelloidea (4), Atrypoidea (4), Athyridoidea (5), Cyrtioidea (5) and Delthyridoidea (3). Five new species,  Leptaena eska, Isorthis (Ovalella) clarksoni, Dicoelosia paratenua, Oglupes scotia and Lissatrypa scotica, are erected. Nevertheless in terms of abundance the fauna is dominated by individuals belonging to the Strophomenoidea, Plectambonitoidea and Dalmanelloidea. The composition of the fauna, its deeper-water setting associated with finer-grained siliciclastic substrates characterizes this Pentlandian biota.