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A well-preserved and locally abundant crinoid fauna has been discovered in the lower part of the Champlainian (Middle Ordovician) Glenhaven Member of the Guttenberg Formation in the Upper Mississippi Valley region. The material consists of the dicyclic inadunates Cupulocrinus levorsoni n. sp., C. jewetti (E. Billings) and monocyclic camerate Pycnocrinus gerki n. sp.

Echinoderms of the Middle Ordovician Platteville and lower Galena Groups of north-central Illinois and south-central Wisconsin are represented by at least seven classes including the Homoiostelea, Cystoidea, Crinoidea, Stelleroidea, Edrioasteroidea, Cyclocystoidea, Echinoidea, and possibly Holothuroidea. The most abundant and diverse echinoderms are monocyclic and dicyclic inadunate and camerate crinoids, of which the cupulocrinids and glyptocrinids are best represented. Thirteen new species and one new genus of crinoids are described: Cremacrinus guttenbergensis, Anulocrinus forrestonensis, Isotomocrinus minutus, Carabocrinus oogyi, Dendrocrinus? springeri, Merocrinus britonensis, Cupulocrinus plattevillensis, C. molanderi, Reteocrinus rocktonensis, R. spinosus, Traskocrinus mahlburgi (n. gen. et sp.), Rhaphanocrinus buckleyi, Glyptocrinus charltoni, and G. pustulosis. One new species of rhombiferan cystoid, Coronocystis durandensis, is also described. Echinoids of the family Bothriocidaridae (Bothriocidaris solemi n. sp. and Neobothriocidaris templetoni n. sp.) are reported for the first time from North America and appear to be the earliest recorded occurrence. Remains of a third bothriocidarid characterized by coalesced podial pores have also been discovered. Light and scanning electron microscopy of well preserved cyclocystoid specimens reveal a number of previously undescribed morphologic features of the central disc and submarginal ring that may shed some light on their functional morphology.Cupulocrinus gracilis Ramsbottom from the Upper Drummuck Group Starfish Bed at Thraive Glen near Girvan, Scotland, is here reassigned to C. drummuckensis n. sp.Echinoderms are associated with an abundant and diverse fauna consisting largely of suspension feeders, primarily strophomenid and orthid brachiopods and trepostome and cryptostome bryozoans. Other common groups include corals, trilobites, sponges, and mollusks. Filamentous brown, foliose red and siphonaceous green algae are associated with the fauna at some localities.Carbonate rocks of both the limestone and dolostone facies of the Platteville (Briton, Walgreen and Forreston Members) and lower Galene Groups in the study area consist primarily of abundant shelly invertebrates occurring as whole and broken, unabraded, commonly articulated remains “floating” in a calcisiltite matrix that is highly bioturbated. Carbonate sediments appear to have been deposited in a near-to below wave base, highly stable, open marine environment characterized by low depositional slopes, good circulation and low terrigenous influx.

Abundant, well-preserved specimens of a new peltocystidan mitrate carpoid,Jaekelocarpus oklahomensisn. gen. and sp., have been discovered in the Pennsylvanian (Morrowan Series) Gene Autry Shale Member, Golf Course Formation, in southern Oklahoma. The new carpoid postdates the youngest previously known carpoids (Middle Devonian) by about 65 million years. It is characterized by a small (to 4 mm in length) globose theca composed of six plates: two large adaulacophorals, two large marginals, and two relatively small plates that frame the main thecal orifice. One of the plates at the orifice bears a single stout spine. The theca and plates that comprise the theca display a high degree of bilateral symmetry. In contrast, the styloid has an asymmetrical array of spines and blades.We hypothesize that most mitrates, including this one, were adapted to an infaunal life mode. The streamlined, generally symmetrical body shape is an adaptation to moving on or through the substrate. Spines and blades on the lower surface of the styloid and proximal aulacophore are inferred to be adaptations for gripping the substrate as the animal pulled itself backwards (aulacophore first). The main thecal orifice opposite the aulacophore was the site of both mouth and anus. Evidence for a sluggish, epifaunal life mode in the cornute carpoids includes the typically flattened, asymmetrical body, the presence of downward projecting spines and knobs on the marginal thecal plates of many species, and the specialized thecal pores and slits that faced away from the substrate.

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