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Article: Chancelloriid sclerites from the Dyeran-Delamaran (‘Lower-Middle’ Cambrian) boundary interval of the Pioche-Caliente region, Nevada, USA

Papers in Palaeontology - Volume 7 Issue 1 - Cover
Publication: Papers in Palaeontology
Volume: 7
Part: 1
Publication Date: Febuary 2021
Page(s): 565 623
Author(s): J. L. Moore, Susannah M. Porter, Mark Webster, and Adam C. Maloof
DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1274
Addition Information

How to Cite

MOORE, J.L., PORTER, S.M., WEBSTER, M., MALOOF, A.C. 2021. . Papers in Palaeontology, 7, 1, 565-623. DOI: /doi/10.1002/spp2.1274

Author Information

  • J. L. Moore - Earth Research Institute & Department of Earth Science University of California Santa Barbara CA 93106 USA
  • Susannah M. Porter - Earth Research Institute & Department of Earth Science University of California Santa Barbara CA 93106 USA
  • Mark Webster - Department of the Geophysical Sciences University of Chicago 5734 South Ellis Avenue Chicago IL 60637 USA
  • Adam C. Maloof - Department of Geosciences Princeton University Guyot Hall, Washington Road Princeton NJ 08544 USA

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 08 March 2021
  • Manuscript Accepted: 17 January 2019
  • Manuscript Received: 20 July 2018

Funded By

Division of Earth Sciences. Grant Numbers: EAR‐1410503, EAR‐1411594

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

Chancelloriids are a poorly understood group of phylogenetically problematic Cambrian metazoans; complete specimens show they were sessile, radially symmetrical, club‐shaped organisms covered with sclerites in the form of rosettes of spines. While isolated sclerites are common components of Cambrian shelly assemblages, they have been relatively little studied. We describe chancelloriid sclerites from a series of nine sections spanning the upper Dyeran to lower Delamaran stages (latest Stage 4 to perhaps basal Wuliuan) from the Pioche–Caliente region of east‐central Nevada, USA. Acid maceration of samples from the Combined Metals, Comet Shale and Susan Duster Limestone members of the Pioche Formation yielded more than 2000 sclerites. Based on careful examination of these sclerites and statistical analyses of co‐occurring sclerite types, we distinguish six species, each with a restricted stratigraphic range. Chancelloria impar Moore sp. nov. is the dominant species in most upper Dyeran samples. Archiasterella cometensis Moore sp. nov. and A. auriculata Moore sp. nov. are rare in the upper Dyeran but abundant in the lowest Delamaran; A. uncinata Moore sp. nov. and C. lilioides Moore sp. nov. replace these in younger samples. A. auriculata is noteworthy for sharing features with species of both Archiasterella and Chancelloria. These results provide further support for the taxonomic tractability and biostratigraphical utility of chancelloriid sclerites; large collections from single horizons allow intraspecific variability to be assessed and species to be distinguished. Our results document a taxonomic turnover in chancelloriids at the Dyeran–Delamaran boundary, showing that not only trilobites were affected at this time.

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