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Taxonomy, evolution, and biostratigraphy of the Orthograptus quadrimucronatus species group (Ordovician, Graptolithina)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 May 2016
Abstract
The Orthograptus quadrimucronatus species group currently comprises 22 taxa, which, with the exception of O. ruedemanni, are distinguished from other orthograptids by the presence of paired apertural spines on their thecae. A detailed morphometric analysis of this group indicates that these taxa comprise four basic morphotypes that actually represent only six distinct species: O. pageanus, O. quadrimucronatus, O. spinigerus, O. ruedemanni, O. eucharis, and O. rivai.
Specimens of Orthograptus pageanus have a rapidly widening rhabdosome with elongated spines on the first two or four thecae. Orthograptus pageanus is divided into two chronological subspecies, an older, smaller form, O. pageanus pageanus, and a younger, larger form, O. pageanus maximus n. subsp. Specimens of O. spinigerus have elongated spines on one or two thecal pairs between the sixth and thirteenth thecal pairs, a very narrow proximal end, and a rapidly widening rhabdosome. Specimens of O. quadrimucronatus have a more parallel-sided shape and no unusually long spines. The subspecies O. quadrimucronatus richmondensis is differentiated by the absence of both a median septum and a th 12 spine. Orthograptus ruedemanni, O. rivai, and O. eucharis are all dwarf forms.
Within a chronostratigraphic framework based on K-bentonite bed correlations the pattern and process of evolutionary change in the members of the O. quadrimucronatus species group is examined. Morphometrically, each species remains a coherent entity through time, occupying its own distinct morphospace. Each speciation event probably occurred rapidly, precluding the preservation of intermediates, and the new species retained their basic morphology throughout their existence. Within these lineages, phyletic changes were either absent or encompassed only changes in size, even when accumulated for much longer intervals than would be expected for speciation events. These patterns appear to be consistent with the evolutionary model of punctuated equilibrium.
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