Review of the Ordovician pelagic trilobite Ellipsotaphrus (Cyclopygoidea, Ellipsotaphridae) and its allies, with new discoveries from Girvan, Ayrshire

Abstract

Following Fortey and Owens (1987), the Ordovician trilobite taxon Ellipsotaphrinae is established as valid, but is argued to have full family status within the Cyclopygoidea. It encompasses the existing genera Ellipsotaphrus, Girvanopyge Gamops and Circulocrania together with two new genera proposed herein, Arisemolobes and Synaptotaphrus. Typical ellipsotaphrid genera have a totally circumscribed ‘foreglabella’, incorporating extended S1 furrows and a portion of the occipital furrow. The known range of the family is Floian to Katian. Genera are conservative in form throughout their ranges and are widespread. All occur only in deeper water sediments with palaeooceanic access. Ellipsotaphrus monophthalmus and Ellipsotaphrus infaustus are reassessed and Ellipsotaphrus zhongguoensis, from the Katian of China, is regarded as a junior synonym of the Katian Girvan species Ellipsotaphrus pumilio. Girvanopyge [ = Cremastoglottos; Nanlingia; Waldminia] is demonstrated, partly on the basis of new material from the Katian of Girvan, to be an ellipsotaphrid cyclopygoid and not to have a close affinity to the remopleuridids, as had been clained. Girvanopyge barrandei, from the Katian of the Czech Republic, is synonymised with Girvanopyge caudata from China. Gamops is revived for forms showing a relationship to both Girvanopyge and Ellipsotaphrus. It encompasses three Czech species including the Dapingian Gamops triangulatus, which probably also occurs in correlative strata in South Wales. The systematic treatment is supported by new material from the Upper Ordovician of the Girvan district, and the relevant geology of this area is described in detail. New species proposed are: Arisemolobes zhouzhiyii, Synaptotaphrus oarion and Circulocrania ? dichaulax.