XIV—Scottish Carboniferous Goniatites

Abstract

SynopsisIn Part I brief descriptions are given of the goniatite faunas found at horizons in the Scottish Carboniferous succession; and mainly on the evidence of these faunas, the stages of B, P1; P2, E1; and E2 and A are approximately demarcated. No goniatites suggesting the presence of H, R and G have been seen.In Part II descriptions are given of certain species of the following genera: Beyrichoceratoides, Anthracoceras, Cravenoceras, Cravenoceratoides, Girtyoceras, Eumorphoceras, Goniatites, Sudeticeras, Dimorphoceras, Neodimorphoceras and a new genus, Cluthoceras.

The Goniatite Girtyoceras cf. weetsense Moore from the shales above the Jew Limestone, Northumberland

“…In north Northumberland a single specimen of Beyrichoceratoides truncatus (Phillips) has been collected from the shales above the Oxford Limestone at Rock Middlesteads (Dunham, 1948, p. 11). The specimen is imperfect but this species has been recorded in both Pj and P 2 (Currie, 1954). The age of these goniatites thus agrees favourably with that of the new record at Temon.…”

X.— The Mode of Life of Certain Goniatites

“…Calculations based mainly on a specimen of Dimorphoceras marioni Moore (Currie, 1954, pl« H, n £ s -I 5 a » D 0 collected by Mr. R. B. Wilson from the Neilson Shell Bed (P 2 ) at Thornton Quarry, Thorntonhall (Hunt. Mus.…”

“…Calculations based mainly on the holotype of C. scoticum Currie (base of E x ) in the collection of the Royal Scottish Museum (1883.23.15) (Currie, 1954, P*-H» n S s -22a > D > c 0-The specimen is crushed in the region of the aperture. With the body-chamber reconstructed up to 380 0 , this specimen would have a maximum diameter of 20-75 mm.…”

“…In the Lower Bollandian Stage (P x ) in Scotland Beyrichoceratoides truncatus is the dominant goniatite (Currie, 1954, P-53 I )J indeed, with two exceptions, it is the only species known from this stage. Variants have been found at several horizons in P x and the species also ranges up into P 2 .…”

“…When studying Scottish Carboniferous goniatites during recent years the writer (Currie, 1954) was rnainly concerned to determine the species that occur in Scotland and to work out the goniatite zones, i.e. to see how far Bisat's goniatite zonal scheme could be applied to the Scottish succession.…”