Antarctica

Lower Cambrian limestone erratics have been recovered within early Miocene glaciomarine deposits of King George Island, north of the Antarctic Peninsula (Gaździcki and Wrona, Reference Gaździcki and Wrona1986; Wrona, Reference Wrona1989); these contain a diverse fauna of poriferan spicules and chancellorid, sachitiid, and tommotiid sclerites (Wrona, Reference Wrona2004), organophosphatic brachiopods (Holmer et al., Reference Holmer, Popov and Wrona1996), bradoriids and phosphatocopids (Wrona, Reference Wrona2009), and mollusks (Wrona, Reference Wrona2003). The molluskan fauna from the erratics is similar to the Shackleton Limestone samples recovered from the Holyoake Range, including the genera Yochelcionella Runnegar and Pojeta Reference Runnegar and Pojeta1974, Anabarella Vostokova, Reference Vostokova1962, and Pelagiella (Matthew, Reference Matthew1895) (Wrona, Reference Wrona2003). The erratics most likely belong to the Shackleton Limestone and host the age-diagnostic tommotiid Dailyatia odyssei (Evans and Rowell, Reference Evans and Rowell1990; Wrona, Reference Wrona2004; Skovsted et al., Reference Skovsted, Betts, Topper and Brock2015).

South Australia

Previous studies suggesting a link between the Shackleton Limestone and South Australia were based on relatively few in situ samples from Antarctica, particularly of SSFs (see Brock et al., Reference Brock, Engelbrechtsen, Jago, Kruse, Laurie, Shergold, Shi and Sorauf2000; Topper et al., Reference Topper, Skovsted, Brock and Paterson2011; Yang et al., Reference Yang, Steiner and Keupp2015). Biostratigraphic correlation has previously been based on trilobites (Palmer and Gatehouse, Reference Palmer and Gatehouse1972; Palmer and Rowell, Reference Palmer and Rowell1995). Palmer and Rowell (Reference Palmer and Rowell1995) tentatively assigned their six assemblages of trilobites to be from Atdabanian to Toyonian in age, and their assemblage 4 was correlated to the Pararaia janae zone of South Australia on the basis of co-occurrence of Balcoracania (Jell in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990). Paterson and Brock (Reference Paterson and Brock2007) described Yunnanocephalus macromelos from the Mernmerna Formation, indicating a link between Palmer and Rowell's (Reference Palmer and Rowell1995) Assemblage 1 (which contains members of the genus) and the Pararaia bunyenrooensis Zone. Caution was suggested in these ages due to few easily compared species (Palmer and Rowell, Reference Palmer and Rowell1995, p. 4). Debrenne and Kruse (Reference Debrenne and Kruse1986, Reference Debrenne and Kruse1989) indicated an Atdabanian–Botoman age for Antarctic archaeocyaths and considered most species to be found in common with the Wilkawillina and Ajax Limestones (Debrenne and Kruse, Reference Debrenne, Kruse and Crame1989, p. 24). Accurately correlating the Shackleton Limestone on the basis of the molluskan fauna alone is problematic due to issues already discussed with steinkern formation (Creveling et al., Reference Creveling, Knoll and Johnston2014; Jacquet et al., Reference Jacquet, Betts and Brock2016a) and long stratigraphic ranges of helcionelloids (Landing, Reference Landing1988; Geyer and Shergold, Reference Geyer and Shergold2000; Jacquet et al., Reference Jacquet, Brougham, Skovsted, Jago, Laurie, Betts, Topper and Brock2017; Zhang et al., Reference Zhang2017). This problem was discussed by Betts et al. (Reference Betts, Paterson, Jago, Jacquet, Skovsted, Topper and Brock2017, p. 202) and Jacquet et al. (Reference Jacquet, Brougham, Skovsted, Jago, Laurie, Betts, Topper and Brock2017) in reference to the informal molluskan assemblage biozonations in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001). A close correlation to the Dailyatia odyssei Zone in South Australia is strengthened by the shared presence of the accessory taxa Cambroclavus absonus Conway Morris in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990 (Skovsted et al., Reference Skovsted, Brock and Paterson2006, fig. 2) in the biohermal facies at the top of the Shackleton Limestone and Spinospitella coronata in the overlying Holyoake Formation, both of which co-occur in the D. odyssei Zone with accessory taxon Schizopholis (=Karathele) yorkensis (Ushatinskaya and Holmer in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001). The presence of these taxa exclude the biohermal unit from correlation with the underlying Micrina etheridgei Zone, in which the steinkerns of the mollusks Pojetaia runnegari, Pelagiella, Anabarella, and Davidonia Parkhaev, Reference Parkhaev2017b also occur (Betts et al., Reference Betts, Paterson, Jago, Jacquet, Skovsted, Topper and Brock2017, figs. 3, 4, 7, 8, 12). Xianfengella, Yochelcionella, and Stenotheca are all restricted to the D. odyssei Zone in South Australia, allowing for stronger correlation (Betts et al., Reference Betts, Paterson, Jago, Jacquet, Skovsted, Topper and Brock2017, figs. 5, 10, 12). Protowenella Runnegar and Jell, Reference Runnegar and Jell1976 is also known from the Cambrian Series 3 in Australia (Runnegar and Jell, Reference Runnegar and Jell1976; Brock, Reference Brock1998; Vendrasco et al., Reference Vendrasco, Porter, Kouchinsky, Li and Fernandez2010), as well as Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4 (Smith et al., Reference Smith, Brock and Paterson2015), but the utility of this taxon in correlation with South Australia is doubtful due to problems with consistent identification.

The Shackleton Limestone fauna has most similarity with the Mernmerna Formation in the Arrowie Basin, which shares the micromollusks Pojetaia runnegari, Davidonia, Pelagiella, Anabarella, Stenotheca Hicks, Reference Hicks1872, and Xianfengella He and Yang, Reference He and Yang1982 (Topper et al., Reference Topper, Brock, Skovsted and Paterson2009). The macromollusk Marocella mira not reported in this study is also present in the upper Mernmerna Formation (Topper et al., Reference Topper, Brock, Skovsted and Paterson2009; Jacquet and Brock, Reference Jacquet and Brock2016) and the Shackleton Limestone that outcrops in the Churchill Mountains (Evans, Reference Evans1992). The Ajax Limestone in the Arrowie Basin also contains Davidonia and Anabarella steinkerns as well as Pelagiella subangulata (Tate, Reference Tate1892) (Betts et al., Reference Betts, Paterson, Jago, Jacquet, Skovsted, Topper and Brock2016a, fig. 2). Pojetaia runnegari has also been reported from the Ajax Limestone (Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, fig. 6) although the range extends down into the underlying M. etheridgei Zone. The Shackleton Limestone thus strongly correlates with the D. oddysei zone in the upper Ajax Limestone (Betts et al., Reference Betts, Paterson, Jago, Jacquet, Skovsted, Topper and Brock2016a, fig. 2). Yochelcionella chinensis Pei, Reference Pei1985 has also been reported from the younger Oraparinna Shale (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990) of the Pararaia janeae Zone (Jago et al., Reference Jago, Gehling, Paterson, Brock and Zang2012).

Highly diverse assemblages of micromollusks have been reported from the lower Cambrian Stansbury Basin (Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990; Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001), many of which also occur in the Shackleton Limestone. Davidonia rostrata (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984), Pojetaia runnegari, as well as the genera Anuliconus Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, Anabarella, Pelagiella, and Stenotheca occur in the uppermost Kulpara Formation and disconformably overlying Parara Limestone in the western Stansbury Basin (Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990; Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001), indicating long stratigraphic ranges of limited correlation potential. Xianfengella yatesi Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001 has a more restricted occurrence, in the Parara Limestone at Yorke Peninsula (Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001). Betts et al. (Reference Betts, Paterson, Jago, Jacquet, Skovsted, Topper and Brock2017, fig. 22) identified the D. odyssei Zone in the Parara Limestone at Horse Gully on Yorke Peninsula. A condensed Kulparina rostrata Zone and overlying Micrina etheridgei Zone occurr in the disconformably underlying Kulpara Formation (Betts et al., Reference Betts, Paterson, Jago, Jacquet, Skovsted, Topper and Brock2017, p. 202).

North China

Cambrian Series 2 strata from North China are divided into three biozones: the informal Stenotheca drepanoida-Pelagiella madianensis Biozone (Feng et al., Reference Feng, Qian and Rong1994), considered equivalent to the Pararaia janeae trilobite zone of South Australia (Yun et al., Reference Yun, Zhang, Li, Zhang and Liu2016), and the overlying Redlichia and Redlichia chinensis informal trilobite zones (Yun et al., Reference Yun, Zhang, Li, Zhang and Liu2016). Mollusks from the Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4, Xinji Formation in Shaanxi Province, Henan Province, and Anhui Province on the southwestern, southern, and southeastern margins of the North China Platform, respectively, can be closely correlated to the Shackleton Limestone based on shared genera Stenotheca, Pelagiella, Yochelcionella, Yu and Rong, Reference Yu and Rong1991, and Anabarella and species Xinjispira simplex, Pojetaia runnegari, and Davidonia rostrata (He et al., Reference He, Pei and Fu1984; Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984; He and Pei, Reference He and Pei1985; Pei, Reference Pei1985; Li and Zhou, Reference Li and Zhou1986; Yu and Rong, Reference Yu and Rong1991; Feng et al., Reference Feng, Qian and Rong1994; Yun et al., Reference Yun, Zhang, Li, Zhang and Liu2016). The presence of Xinjispira simplex in the Shackleton Limestone represents the first discovery of the species outside North China and helps strengthen this correlation. Putative Protowenella steinkerns are also known from the Xinji Formation (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984). However, it should be noted that diagnostic muscle scars are not preserved on specimens from the Xinji Formation or Shackleton Limestone (and other putative pre-Series 3 specimens), making taxonomic assignment to this genus tentatative at this stage (Berg-Madsen and Peel, Reference Berg-Madsen and Peel1978; Brock, Reference Brock1998).

South China

Palmer and Rowell (Reference Palmer and Rowell1995) correlated their Trilobite Assemblage 1 (tentatively ‘Atdabanian’) to the Eoredlichia-Wutingaspis Zone of South China, which has significant overlap with the Dailyatia odyssei Zone of South Australia (Betts et al., Reference Betts, Paterson, Jago, Jacquet, Skovsted, Topper and Brock2017). The Eoredlichia-Wutingaspis Zone is equivalent to the Pelagiella subangulata Zone of East Yunnan and central Sichuan in South China (Steiner et al., Reference Steiner, Li, Qian, Zhu and Erdtmann2007). The uppermost Shiyantou, Yuanshan (Yunnan Province) and upper Jiulaodong (Sichuan Province) formations of this zone have no shared helcionelloids for correlation to the Shackleton Limestone. The Yuanshan Formation of East Yunnan is predominantly siliciclastic and preserves phosphatic SSFs only in the lowermost phosphatic conglomerate unit, which contains SSFs of the Sinosachites flabelliformis-Tannuolina zhangwengtangi Zone (Steiner et al., Reference Steiner, Zhu, Weber and Geyer2001), immediately below the Pelagiella subangulata Zone (Steiner et al., Reference Steiner, Li, Qian, Zhu and Erdtmann2007). This zone shares the taxon Xianfengella with the Shackleton Limestone only, in the Terreneuvian Yanjiahe Formation of Hubei (Guo et al., Reference Guo, Li and Li2014) and Zhujianqing Formation of Yunnan (Anabarites trusulcatus-Protohertzina anabarica to Watsonella crosbyi zones) (Parkhaev and Demidenko, Reference Parkhaev and Demidenko2010).

Laurentia

The SSF composition of eastern Laurentia suggests a continuous shelf margin during the early Cambrian (Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2006b; Skovsted and Peel, Reference Skovsted and Peel2010). Landing and Bartowski (Reference Landing and Bartowski1996) and Landing et al. (Reference Landing, Geyer and Bartowski2002) reported diverse assemblages of SSFs from the Browns Pond Formation of the Taconic Allochthon of New York (Landing and Bartowski, Reference Landing and Bartowski1996) and the ‘Anse Maranda Formation’ of Quebec (Landing et al., Reference Landing, Geyer and Bartowski2002), which contain a similar molluskan component of Davidonia rostrata, Yochelcionella, and Pelagiella. The material from the Browns Pond Formation was collected from the Elliptocephala asaphoides assemblage, recognized as part of the Bonnia-Olenellus Zone by Siveter and Williams (Reference Siveter and Williams1997). Also from Eastern Laurentia, the Forteau Formation of Newfoundland contains an abundant micromolluskan fauna (Skovsted and Peel, Reference Skovsted and Peel2007), which shares Pojetaia runnegari, Davidonia, Stenotheca, and Pelagiella with the Shackleton Limestone. The formation also belongs to the Bonnia-Olenellus Zone as both trilobite genera occur there (Schuchert and Dunbar, Reference Schuchert and Dunbar1934; Knight et al., Reference Knight, Boyce, Skovsted and Balthasar2017). Betts et al. (Reference Betts, Paterson, Jago, Jacquet, Skovsted, Topper and Brock2017) recognized an overlap between the younger Olenellus Zone (the base of which is the same as the Bonnia-Olenellus Zone; Landing et al., Reference Landing, Geyer, Brasier and Bowring2013) and the uppermost part of the Dailyatia odyssei Zone of South Australia. The Kinzers Formation of Pennsylvania, of upper Cambrian Series 2 age, also contains steinkerns of Yochelcionella and Pelagiella (Atkins and Peel, Reference Atkins and Peel2008; Skovsted and Peel, Reference Skovsted and Peel2010).

Northeast Greenland has lower Cambrian SSFs recognized as similar to those in South Australia and from the glacial erratics recovered from King George Island, Antarctica (Malinky and Skovsted, Reference Malinky and Skovsted2004; Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2004; Skovsted and Holmer, Reference Skovsted and Holmer2005; Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2006b). Skovsted (Reference Skovsted2004) reported a micromolluskan fauna from the Bastion Formation for Northeast Greenland, also correlated to the Bonnia-Olenellus Zone (Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2006b, fig. 5.1–5.3), placing them as Dyeran in age of Laurentian regional scheme (Landing et al., Reference Landing, Geyer, Brasier and Bowring2013). The micromollusk fauna of the Bastion Formation is very similar to that found in the Shackleton Limestone and shared taxa include Davidonia rostrata, Pojetaia runnegari, Anabarella, Stenotheca, and Yochelcionella, (Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2004) of which the latter four can be more loosely correlated at the generic level.

For western Laurentia, Skovsted (Reference Skovsted2006a) and Wotte and Sundberg (Reference Wotte and Sundberg2017) provided systematic descriptions of lower Cambrian micromollusks from the Great Basins area. Pelagiella and Anabarella appear widespread across the province, with Pelagiella aff. P. subangulata occurring in the Emigrant Formation, Montenegro Member of the Campito Formation and the Combined Metals Member of the Pioche Formation, in rocks of upper Montezuman to Dyeran Stages (Wotte and Sundberg, Reference Wotte and Sundberg2017) given Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3 (Montezuman) and Stages 3–4 (Dyeran) (Peng et al., Reference Peng, Babcock, Cooper, Gradstein, Ogg, Schmitz and Ogg2012).

Type species

Pojetaia runnegari Jell, Reference Jell1980, ‘Salterella Limestone,’ near Ardrossan, South Australia, by original designation. This likely corresponds to the Parara Limestone at Horse Gully, near Ardrossan, South Australia (cf. Jell, Reference Jell1980, p. 234; Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, fig. 4).

Pojetaia runnegari Jell, Reference Jell1980
Figure 3

See Elicki and Gürsu (Reference Elicki and Gürsu2009, p. 281–282) for a detailed synonymy.

1980

Pojetaia runnegari Jell, p. 235, figs. 1–3.

2004a

Pojetaia runnegari; Parkhaev, p. 600, pl. 2, figs. 15–18.

2007

Pojetaia runnegari; Skovsted and Peel, p. 737, fig. 4 K, L.

2008

Pojetaia runnegari; Parkhaev, p. 38, fig. 3.4.

2009

Pojetaia runnegari; Elicki and Gürsu, p. 281, pl. 1, pl. 2, E–H.

2009

Pojetaia runnegari; Topper et al., p. 238, fig. 12 K–M.

2010

Pojetaia runnegari; Heuse et al., p. 107, fig. 2.14.

2011

Pojetaia runegari; Vendrasco et al., pl. 1–4.

2015

Pojetaia runnegari; Vinther, fig. 2H.

2016

Pojetaia runnegari; Yun et al., fig. 5M.

2017

Pojetaia runnegari; Betts et al., fig. 17O.

Figure 3. Pojetaia runnegari Jell, Reference Jell1980 from the Shackleton Limestone. (1–4) Specimen SMNH Mo185039 in (1) lateral view, (2) dorsal view, (3) magnification of the central margin, showing laminar crystalline imprints, (4) magnification of the cardinal teeth shown in (2). (5, 6) Specimen SMNH Mo185040, (5) lateral view, (6) magnification of lateral surface, showing laminar crystalline imprints. (7) Specimen SMNH Mo185041 in lateral view. (8) Specimen SMNH Mo185042 in lateral view. (9) Specimen SMNH Mo185043. (5, 6, 8) imaged under low vacuum settings. (1, 2, 6–9) Scale bars = 200 µm; (3–5) scale bars = 100 µm.

Holotype

P59669, Paleontological collections, National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. Internal mold of articulated valves, ‘Salterella limestone,’ lower Cambrian, South Australia.

Occurrence

See Elicki and Gürsu (Reference Elicki and Gürsu2009, p. 273) for a full review of global stratigraphic distribution. Distribution now includes Cambrian unnamed Series 2, Stages 3–4, of Newfoundland, Canada (Skovsted and Peel, Reference Skovsted and Peel2007), and East Antarctica.

Description

Small equibivalved steinkerns, suboval or subcircular in outline to slightly extended caudally, range from 0.8–1.5 mm in length, 0.4–1.1 mm in height. Umbo central to subcentral and prosogyral. Shells 0.8–1.5 mm in length, 0.4–1.1 mm in height. One to two cardinal teeth on straight dorsal hinge but sometimes not preserved. Small, projecting auricle present on posterior part of the hinge. Ventral margin slightly convex, transition to anterior and posterior margins variable from distinct bend to gentle curve. Ligament or muscle scars not preserved. Prismatic imprints present on the internal mold, covering the majority of the steinkern, becoming smaller but clearer at the ventral margin.

Remarks

Antarctic specimens are exclusively steinkerns, which hinders comparison to specimens preserved as external molds that are used to diagnose the species (e.g., Jell, Reference Jell1980; Runnegar and Bentley, Reference Runnegar and Bentley1983; Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990; Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2004; Elicki and Gürsu, Reference Elicki and Gürsu2009). The specimens fit within the known size and morphological range for P. runnegari (see Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, figs. 165, 166; Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, p. 201–203, pl. 49, figs. 1–13, pl. 50, figs. 1–9; Elicki and Gürsu, Reference Elicki and Gürsu2009) and have a similar distribution of foliated aragonite imprints on the steinkern surface (Fig. 3.3, 3.5; cf. Runnegar and Bentley, Reference Runnegar and Bentley1983, fig. 6A, B, E, I; Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, fig. 165E–G; Vendrasco et al., Reference Vendrasco, Checa and Kouchinsky2011, pl. 3, 4). Compared to measured specimens, height-to-length ratios and overall size of the Antarctic specimens cover the range of values for Pojetaia and Fordilla (Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, p. 202; Elicki and Gürsu, Reference Elicki and Gürsu2009, p. 275), although measurements given are few. The specimens are assigned to P. runnegari due to lack of visible muscle scars, typical for P. runnergari (Runnegar and Bentley, Reference Runnegar and Bentley1983) and shorter caudal extension than in Fordilla, a taxon not reported from East Gondwana.

Antarctic specimens are typically missing the anterior auricle, which appears to be broken off, although the posterior auricle is occasionally present (Fig. 3.7). Judging by the variation in caudal extension, the Antarctic specimens appear to conform to Jell's (Reference Jell1980) observation that the size of the posterior auricle is variable.

Type species

Davidonia davidi (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990), by original designation (=Mellopegma rostratum Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984) from the lower Cambrian Parara Limestone, Stansbury Basin, South Australia, Dailyatia odyssei Zone.

Remarks

Steinkerns of Davidonia exhibit a range of characteristics (Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, p.175) such as bilateral symmetry and presence of rugae (Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, p. 175–176) but typically preserve microstructural polygonal imprints of tabular aragonite on their surface (Vendrasco and Checa, Reference Vendrasco and Checa2015). Cyrtoconic Davidonia rostrata is typically more recurved than others (Fig. 4.6, 4.8, 4.6, 4.12; e.g., Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 40, figs. 1–3, 5, 8, pl. 41, figs. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9). At the other end of the spectrum lies the erect, almost orthoconic Davidonia taconica (e.g., Landing and Bartowski, Reference Landing and Bartowski1996, fig. 5.5, 5.7–5.9; Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2004, fig. 3I, L). Davidonia taconica was originally included in the genus Stenotheca (Landing and Bartowski, Reference Landing and Bartowski1996) but later removed and placed in a new genus ‘Aequiconus’ (Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001). Skovsted (Reference Skovsted2004) later placed the species in Davidonia due to the prominent lateral rugae with polygonal aragonite imprints. This reassignment leaves M. taconica and another species, M. puppis Høyberget et al., Reference Høyberget, Ebbestad, Funke and Nakrem2015, from the Cambrian Stage 4 Evjevik Member of the Ringstrand Formation Norway (Høyberget et al., Reference Høyberget, Ebbestad, Funke and Nakrem2015), as outliers within the genus, as they lack a parietal train.

Davidonia rostrata (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984)
Figure 4.6–4.14

1984

Mellopegma rostratum n. sp. Zhou and Xiao, p. 132, pl. 3, figs. 7–10.

?1984

Bemella anhuiensis n. sp. Zhou and Xiao, p. 129, pl. 1, figs. 8, 9.

?1984

Bemella costa n. sp. Zhou and Xiao, p. 128, pl. 1, fig. 10.

1990

Mackinnonia davidi n. sp. Runnegar in Bengtson et al., p. 234, figs. 159, 160 J.

1994

Mellopegma rostratum; Feng et al., p. 7, pl. 2, figs. 5–9.

1996

Mackinnonia obliqua n. sp. Landing and Bartowski, p. 754, figs. 5.10–5.16.

2001

Mackinnonia rostrata; Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., p. 176, pl. 40, 41.

?2002

Mackinnonia obliqua; Landing et al., p. 296, fig. 8.3.

2004

Mackinnonia rostrata; Skovsted, p. 16, fig. 3A–H.

?2006

Mackinnonia cf. M. rostrata; Wotte, p. 151, fig. 5 g–k.

2014

Mackinnonia rostrata; Parkhaev, p. 374, pl. 3, figs. 2, 3.

2016

Mackinnonia sp.; Jacquet and Brock, p. 340, fig. 5 H, J.

2016a

Mackinnonia rostrata; Betts et al., p. 196, fig. 18N–U.

Figure 4. Helcionellids from the Shackleton Limestone. (1–5) Davidonia cf. D. corrugata Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990. (1–3) Specimen SMNH Mo185044 in (1) oblique lateral view, (2) apical view, (3) magnification of apical region in lateral view, showing protoconch and transition to teleoconch; (4) specimen SMNH Mo185045, oblique view of supra-apical field; (5) specimen SMNH Mo185046 lateral view. (6–14) Davidonia rostrata (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984), (6, 7) specimen SMNH Mo185047, (6) lateral view, (7) dorsal view of supra-apical field; (8–11) specimen SMNH Mo185048, (8) magnification of lateral view of parietal train, showing polygonal crystalline imprints on the side surface, (9) dorsal view of supra-apical field, (10) lateral view, (11) magnification of oblique lateral view of supra-apical field, showing polygonal crystalline imprints; (12) specimen SMNH Mo182501 in lateral view; (13) specimen SMNH Mo182502 in lateral view; (14) specimen SMNH Mo182503 in lateral view. (15–18) Xianfengella cf. X. yatesi Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, specimen SMNH Mo185049, (15) dorsal view, (16) oblique apical view, (17) magnified view of supra-apical field showing crystalline imprints, (18) oblique lateral view. (19–21) Protowenella? sp. Runnegar and Jell, Reference Runnegar and Jell1976 specimen SMNH Mo185050, (19) lateral view, (20) dorsal view, (21) apical view. (22–28) Anuliconus sp. Parkhaev in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001), (22–24) specimen SMNH Mo185051, (23) lateral view, (22) magnification of apex in lateral view, (24) apertural view; (25, 26) specimen SMNH Mo185052, (25) lateral view, (26) apical view; (27, 28) specimen SMNH Mo185053, (27) lateral view, (28) apical view. (3, 10, 11, 17, 22, 24) Scale bars = 100 µm; all others, scale bars = 200 µm.

Holotype

No. 800059, Geological Institute, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China. Internal mold from the Xinji (=Yutaishan) Formation of the lower Cambrian of Anhui Province, China.

Occurrence

Cambrian, Stage 2 and Series 2, Stages 3–4 Dailyatia odyssei Zone of South Australia, Cambrian Series 2 Stages 3–4 of North China, Northeast Greenland, Taconic Allochthon of New York, USA, Quebec, Canada, and East Antarctica. Potentially Cambrian Stage 5 of northwestern Spain.

Description

Moderately high, cyrtoconic steinkerns, coiled through one-third of a whorl and moderately laterally compressed. Range 0.5–1.3 mm in length, 0.2–0.8 mm in height (see Table 1), and approximately 1.5 times longer than high. Protoconch reclined, rounded, rapidly expanding, and distinct from the teleoconch by change in microstructural imprints from smooth to polygonal. Strongly hooked apex directly above the parietal train or displaced up to one-quarter the length of the steinkern beyond the parietal train. Supra-apical field evenly convex, subapical field short and concave; moderate rate of expansion. Apertural outline elongated elliptical, sometimes with short rounded parietal train separated by a distinct indent from the subapical field. Rounded parietal train tilts upward at an angle. In lateral view the aperture exhibits a convex profile. Transverse rugae subdued, not present on all Antarctic material but terminate before subapical field when present. Some small juvenile specimens lack rugae. Polygonal microstructural imprints (9–12 µm wide) are exhibited on the surface of the co-marginal rugae, with smooth furrows. The parietal train has pitted depressions on the steinkern surface (3–5 µm wide), and the protoconchs are smooth.

Table 1. Height and length measurements of selected specimens of Davidonia rostrata (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984).

Remarks

Specimens identified as Davidonia rostrata from the Shackleton Limestone range in size and shape (see Table 1), lending support to the concept that this is a morphologically variable species (Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001). This morphological variation is interpreted to reflect ontogenetic, taphonomic, and potential intraspecific variation in this taxon group. Significant variation in the shape of the protoconch between biogeographically distinct assemblages of this species indicate they were morphologically distinct from an early ontogenetic stage, although qualitatively identical at later stages (Jackson and Claybourn, Reference Jackson and Claybourn2018). Smaller specimens (e.g., Fig. 4.13: ~0.6 mm in length, 0.3 mm in height) resemble a similarly recurved helcionellid, Figurina nana (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984), which can otherwise be readily distinguished from D. rostrata by the lack of distinct rugae, a transverse depression above the aperture, and circular protoconch. Some of the specimens (e.g., Fig. 4.13) from the Shackleton Limestone where the rugae are absent are considered juveniles of D. rostrata due to their smaller size compared to figured specimens of F. nana (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984, pl. 3, fig. 11a; Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 35, figs. 4–8) and shared microstructure with other D. rostrata specimens from the Shackleton Limestone (Fig. 4.10, 4.11). A similar pattern was recognized among Australian specimens by Parkhaev in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 41, fig. 11).

Figured specimens of Davidonia rostrata from the Xinji Formation of the North China platform (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984, pl. 1, figs. 8–10, pl. 2, figs. 1–10; Feng et al., Reference Feng, Qian and Rong1994 pl. 2, figs. 5–8) are typically tall, strongly recurved examples of Davidonia rostrata with prominent rugae and with weakly developed parietal trains. Exceptions are two specimens figured by Zhou and Xiao (Reference Zhou and Xiao1984, pl. 1, figs. 8, 9), which are longer than high, are more recurved, and lack parietal trains. The loss of the train is probably due to an incomplete formation of the steinkern, as the rugae are truncated at the base. This morphological variability in height is also reflected in Antarctic specimens, with moderate (Fig. 4.6, 4.12) and low specimens (Fig. 4.8, 4.14) occurring together, but with identical rugae, microstructural imprints, and parietal train.

A wide range of morphologies is figured in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 40, 41) from the Parara Limestone (Stansbury Basin, Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4), Sellick Hill Formation (Stansbury Basin, Terreneuvian, Stage 2), and the Mernmerna Formation (Arrowie Basin, Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4), South Australia. Larger specimens have more prominent rugae than those from the Shackleton Limestone (Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 40, figs. 1–3, 5a, 8, pl. 40, figs. 1–7, 9), and smaller specimens tend to lack (Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 41, fig. 11) or have subdued rugae (Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 41, figs. 6, 10). This probably reflects the ontogeny of Davidonia rostrata, with shell thickenings (preserved as rugae observed on steinkerns) only developing later in their ontogeny. This distribution is comparable to some smaller D. rostrata specimens (Fig. 4.13). Another feature that only appears to occur on larger specimens is the development of a sinus on the parietal train (Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 40, figs. 4, 6). Compared to specimens from the Shackleton Limestone, Australian specimens generally have a larger maximum size, with more prominent rugae, but share the same strong recurvature and microstructure. Runnegar in Bengtson et al. (Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990) figured specimens (fig. 159 A–H) from the Parara Limestone and the upper part of the Ajax Limestone (Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4), also in South Australia. These share a common morphology with other specimens figured in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001), as well as having a transverse thickening on the subapical field (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, fig. 159A, B), a feature that is lacking in Antarctic specimens.

Skovsted (Reference Skovsted2004, fig. 3A, B, F) described Davidonia rostrata from the Bastion Formation (unnamed Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4) of northeast Greenland, which consists of specimens with lower profiles, more subdued rugae, and parietal trains that lack sinuses (Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2004, fig. 3G, C). Both characteristics are more similar to specimens from the Shackleton limestone (e.g., Fig. 4.6, 4.8, 4.14,). Included in Skovsted's (Reference Skovsted2004) synonymy of Davidonia rostrata was ‘Mackinnonia sp.’ (Kouchinsky, Reference Kouchinsky2000, fig. 10) from Siberia, which was reassigned to Davidonia anabarica Parkhaev, Reference Parkhaev2005. Although similar to D. rostrata in its overall morphology, the steinkerns of D. anabarica show prominent transverse tubercles, clearly distinguishing it from D. rostrata (Kouchinsky, Reference Kouchinsky2000, fig. 10 E; Parkhaev, Reference Parkhaev2005, pl. 2, fig. 2E).

‘Mackinnonia cf. M. rostrata’ from the Leonian (Cambrian Stage 5) Láncara Formation of northern Spain (Wotte, Reference Wotte2006) is only tentatively included in the synonymy list, due to the poor preservation and younger stratigraphic age compared to D. rostrata sensu stricto. The synonymization by Parkhaev (in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001) of Bemella anhuiensis Zhou and Xiao Reference Zhou and Xiao1984 and B. costa with Davidonia rostrata have been followed here, but with some uncertainty due to the low clarity of the images available from the original descriptions by Zhou and Xiao (Reference Zhou and Xiao1984). Kouchinsky et al. (Reference Kouchinsky, Bengtson, Clausen and Vendrasco2015, p. 430) expressed doubt in the synonymy of Davidonia davidi with D. rostrata due to D. davidi having a higher profile, greater degree of coiling, and more-prominent rugae on the steinkerns. Material from the Shackleton Limestone have examples that have both moderate profiles and subdued rugae (Fig. 4.6, 4.12), indicating these characteristics alone are not sufficient to distinguish the two species. This leaves the prominence of rugae alone to distinguish the two, which might be ontogenetic, ecophenotypic, or influenced by taphonomic processes of replication of the shell and shell interior of micromollusks by calcium phosphate (Creveling et al., Reference Creveling, Knoll and Johnston2014).

Holotype

‘Lepostega? corrugata’ Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, SAMP29006, Cambrian Stage 3 Parara Limestone, Carramulka, South Australia.

Occurrences

Davidonia corrugata occurs in the Cambrian Stages 3–4 Dailyatia odyssei Zone in South Australia.

Description

High cyrtoconic, erect steinkerns with hooked apex, moderately laterally compressed, apex displaced beyond subapical margin. Steinkerns 0.5–0.6 mm in length and 0.5–0.6 mm in height. Protoconch smooth, small, and pinched, distinct from teleoconch, which expands more rapidly. Supra-apical field convex, subapical field gently concave, moderate rate of expansion. Aperture elliptical to subquadrate. Transverse rugae broad, flat, and subrectangular in profile with reduced width of furrows. Rugae encircle the teleoconch and preserve surficial polygonal imprints, which extend to the uppermost parts of the furrows. Lower parts of the furrows and protoconch are smooth. Parietal train not present in any recovered specimens.

Remarks

Davidonia corrugata was synonymized with Davidonia plicata (=Isitella plicata Missarzhevsky, Reference Missarzhevsky1989) without detailed explanation (Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, p. 178) and only a brief discussion in a later publication (Parkhaev Reference Parkhaev2005, p. 618). We follow Skovsted (Reference Skovsted2004, p. 15) and refer the specimens to Davidonia cf. D. corrugata (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990).

Compared to specimens of Davidonia rostrata from the Shackleton Limestone, these specimens are far less recurved and have more prominent rugae. The lack of a parietal train and less recurved form are similar to D. taconica from Northeast Greenland (Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2004, p. 17–18, figs. 3I–R, 4), but the greater recurvature and more prominent rugae are sufficient to distinguish the two. Davidonia puppis Høyberget et al., Reference Høyberget, Ebbestad, Funke and Nakrem2015 is similar to Davidonia cf. D. corrugata but is much larger in size, up to 6.5 mm in length (Høyberget et al., Reference Høyberget, Ebbestad, Funke and Nakrem2015, p. 49), and has a less recurved apex (Høyberget et al., Reference Høyberget, Ebbestad, Funke and Nakrem2015, fig. 16, A–J).

Specimens from South Australia show different rates of expansion from the apex: from rapidly expanding with a short protoconch (Runnegar in Bengtson, Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, p. 237, fig. 160A–G; Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, p. 296, pl. 39, figs. 6–12) to morphologies with a narrow, elongate protoconch (Topper et al., Reference Topper, Brock, Skovsted and Paterson2009, p. 226, fig. 9A–H). The specimens are referred to Davidonia cf. D. corrugata due to their broad, prominent rugae (Fig. 4.5) and upright suborthoconic profile (Fig. 4.1, 4.4, 4.5), which are most similar to those figured by Topper et al. (Reference Topper, Brock, Skovsted and Paterson2009, fig. 9A–H). A more certain assignment to a species is precluded by lack of information on the aperture and low number of specimens. The broad rugae, narrow furrows, and high profile also differentiate the specimens from Davidonia rostrata, which is characterized by narrower and less prominent rugae and a protoconch that is broader and more rounded. Davidonia taconica can also be readily distinguished from D. cf. D. corrugata by having a more upright form, broader protoconch, and reduced bilateral compression (cf. Skovsted, Reference Skovsted2004, fig. 3I–R). The specimens of D. corrugata from the Mermerna Formation, South Australia, have the same pinched protoconch as the Shackleton Limestone specimens (cf. Fig. 4.1–4.3 with Topper et al., Reference Topper, Brock, Skovsted and Paterson2009, pl. 9, fig. H), while specimens from the Parara Limestone (Stansbury Basin) and Oraparinna Shale (Arrowie Basin) have broad, more spoon-shaped protoconchs in outline, leading to a more regular rate of whorl expansion (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, fig. 160A–F; Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 39, figs. 4, 6b). The Shackleton Limestone specimens also lack a parietal train, unlike specimens from South Australia (Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 38, fig. 7, pl. 39, figs. 2, 3, 7), although this is likely taphonomic due to incomplete steinkern formation.

Type species

Xianfengella prima He and Yang, Reference He and Yang1982 by original designation, from the lower Cambrian Zhongyicun Member of the Meishucun Formation, Yunnan Province, China.

Holotype

PIN 4664/1506, Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. Steinkern from the Parara Limestone, Horse Gully, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, Dailyatia odyssei Zone.

Occurrence

Xianfengella yatesi is known from Cambrian Stages 3–4 Dailyatia odyssei Zone of South Australia. Possibly known from Northeast Greenland and East Antarctica.

Description

Low, cap-shaped steinkern, recurved to approximately one-third of a whorl, apex recurved, displaced beyond the aperture. Single specimen approximately 0.6 mm wide, 0.6 mm high, and 0.9 mm long: two-thirds as wide as it is long. Apex narrow, expands rapidly after first 200 µm, with no distinction between protoconch and teleoconch. Lateral fields and supra-apical field strongly convex. Subapical field short and concave with pegma-like brim at base. Ovoid apertural outline, tapered to the apex, rounded to the base of the supra-apical field. Radial rugae extend from near the apex to the aperture. Polygonal imprints present on entire steinkern surface 13–18 µm wide.

Remarks

Xianfengella has been included within the helcionelloids despite previous comparisons to the cap-like terminations in halkieriids as well as Ocruranus-like fossils (Peel and Skovsted, Reference Peel and Skovsted2005). The polygonal imprints on the steinkern of this specimen (Fig. 4.17) resemble the polygonal aragonite imprints found on other helcionelloids (e.g., Vendrasco et al., Reference Vendrasco, Porter, Kouchinsky, Li and Fernandez2010, p. 1, figs. 4, 5; Vendrasco and Checa, Reference Vendrasco and Checa2015, figs. 2A–D) rather than the layered fibrous bundles that characterize Ocruranus (Vendrasco et al., Reference Vendrasco, Li, Porter and Fernandez2009, pl. 1). The Antarctic specimens differ from those figured from South Australia (Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 34). Diamond-shaped depressions and smooth ridges were reported, but not clearly figured, on the surfaces of the South Australian steinkerns (Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001), which may correspond to the polygonal imprints and longitudinal ridges on the Antarctic specimen. Other features are more easily compared, such as a notch at the subapical margin of the aperture (compare Fig. 4.16 with Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 34. figs. 6b, 8a, 8b; Topper et al., Reference Topper, Brock, Skovsted and Paterson2009, fig. 10J) and strongly recurved and posteriorly displaced apex (Fig. 4.16, 4.18; Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 34, figs. 1, 6a, 8b; Topper et al., Reference Topper, Brock, Skovsted and Paterson2009, fig. 10J). Unfortunately, the aperture and some of the subapical field are both obscured by clastic material in this specimen, making this feature difficult to decipher for closer comparison to X. yatesi from South Australia.

The specimen appears most similar to Xianfengella? cf. X. yatesi from the Bastion Formation, Northeast Greenland (Peel and Skovsted, Reference Peel and Skovsted2005) in terms of the polygonal microstructure on the steinkern exterior (Peel and Skovsted, Reference Peel and Skovsted2005, fig. 5P) and radial ridges (fig. 5 F). Both the Antarctic and Northeast Greenland specimens preserve a brim at the subapical part of the aperture (Fig. 4.16; Peel and Skovsted, Reference Peel and Skovsted2005, fig. 5A–G, J), which is not present on South Australian specimens (cf. short parietal train of Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 34, figs. 1, 2, 8a). For this reason and the fact that only a single specimen has been recovered from the Shackleton Limestone, a cautious taxonomic approach is taken, and we refer this specimen to Xianfengella cf. X. yatesi.

Type species

Anuliconus magnificus, Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001 by original designation from Kulpara Formation (Cambrian Stages 2–3) and Parara Limestone (Cambrian Stages 3–4) in the Stansbury Basin and Mernmerna Formation (Cambrian Stages 3–4) in the Arrowie Basin, South Australia.

Description

High cyrtoconic and moderately bilaterally compressed steinkerns with lateral fields concave at the apex transitioning to flat on the teleoconch. Apex gently recurved over subapical field. Specimens approximately 0.4–0.5 mm wide, 0.5–0.7 mm long, and 0.7–0.9 mm high. Protoconch elongated to knob-like, separated from the teleoconch by a distinct pinching. Supra-apical surface gently convex, subapical surface moderately concave, low to moderate rate of expansion. Apertural outline varies from elliptical to subcircular. Regular, rounded, concentric rugae encircle teleoconch.

Remarks

The Antarctic specimens generally fall within the documented intraspecific variation of the genus based on the original description of Anuliconus (Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, p. 142, pl. 25, figs. 8–17). The steinkerns are moderately bilaterally compressed, gently recurved with a concave subapical field and a convex supra-apical field, with a displacement of the apex over the subapical field and concentric rugae. It is possible the specimens from the Shackleton Limestone represent more than one species due to variations in these features, such as having more subdued (Fig. 4.27) to more prominent (Fig. 4.23, 4.24) rugae and a more (Fig. 4.27) or less (Fig. 4.23) concave subapical field, but these differences alone are insufficient for species distinction. Most of the collection have irregular apertural outlines (Fig. 4.26) or rugae truncated at the aperture (Fig. 4.23, 4.24, 4.25), indicating incomplete steinkerns (‘teilsteinkerns’ sensu Dattilo et al., Reference Dattilo, Freeman, Peters, Heimbrock, Deline, Martin, Kallmeyer, Reeder and Argast2016). Anuliconus sp. are easily distinguished from the similarly shaped Obtusoconus Yu, Reference Yu1979 by having a protoconch recurving over the subapical field.

Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., (Reference Gravestock2001) named three new species from Cambrian Series 2 sediments of South Australia, of which Anuliconus magnificus Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., (Reference Gravestock2001, p. 141) and Anuliconus truncatus Parkhaev in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001, p. 144) bear some similarities to specimens from the Shackleton Limestone. Anuliconus magnificus shares a similar profile to taller Antarctic specimens (compare Fig. 4.23 with Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 24, figs. 8–17) and rounded triangular ribs (Fig. 4.25), and the more irregular, subdued ribs on some specimens (Fig. 4.27, Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 25, figs. 8–15) are similar to A. truncatus (Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 26, fig. 1–4).

Type species

Protowenella flemingi Runnegar and Jell, Reference Runnegar and Jell1976 by original designation from the Cambrian Series 5 Currant Bush Limestone, Locality L128, Queensland, Australia.

Description

Planispiral, open-coiled steinkern coiling through three-quarters of a whorl, apex displaced beyond subcircular apertural margin. Height ~0.9 mm and total length ~1.5 mm. Protoconch slender and elongate with no clear distinction from the teleoconch. Supra-apical field strongly convex; shell exhibits gradual expansion to half a whorl, followed by more rapid expansion of the rest of the teleoconch. Aperture outline subcircular to ovoid, tapering toward apex. Sinus or umbilicus absent.

Remarks

These globose planispiral steinkerns recovered from the Shackleton Limestone are included in the genus Protowenella, but only tentatively due to their poor preservation and low number. The specimens from the Shackleton Limestone have the general morphological features of the genus, such as planispiral, involute profile (Fig. 4.19–4.21), overall globose appearance, and they lack an apertural sinus (Runnegar and Jell, Reference Runnegar and Jell1976, p. 133). The specimens do not have the important circumbilical channels figured but not included in the original diagnosis (Runnegar and Jell, Reference Runnegar and Jell1976, fig. 6E; see also Brock, Reference Brock1998) and described in the revised diagnosis (Berg-Madsen and Peel, Reference Berg-Madsen and Peel1978, p. 118). The Antarctic specimens are more tightly coiled (Fig. 4.19) than Protowenella cobbensis Mackinnon, Reference Mackinnon1985 (fig. 9G), so they can be more closely compared to the more openly coiled type species Protowenella flemingi Runnegar and Jell, Reference Runnegar and Jell1976 (fig. 6). The only other Cambrian Series 2 species that have been described are from the Xinji Formation of South China: Protowenella primaria Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984 and Protowenella huainanensis Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984. P. primaria figured from the Xinji Formation is typically planispiral, but some specimens might demonstrate slight asymmetry (e.g., Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984, pl. 3, fig. 19a, b, pl. 4, figs. 4b, 5b). They also do not coil as tightly as the Shackleton Limestone specimens, and they have a broad umbilicus. This asymmetry seems to be more pronounced in P. huiananensis (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984, pl. 3, figs. 18b, 19b). These specimens also appear to lack circumbilical channels (Zhou and Xiao, pl. 3, figs. 18–20, pl. 4, figs. 1–5). The lack of circumbilical channels in specimens described as Protowenella indicate they may not have the necessary features to be included in the genus (Berg-Madsen and Peel, Reference Berg-Madsen and Peel1978), an issue discussed by Brock (Reference Brock1998), who pointed out another species, P. plena Missarzhevsky and Mambetov, Reference Missarzhevsky and Mambetov1981, may also be excluded on the same basis. The only specimen of Protowenella that can be confidently assigned to the genus from Cambrian Series 2 rocks is Protowenella sp. from the Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4, Tempe Formation from the Northern Territory, Australia, on the basis of well-preserved muscle scars (Smith et al., Reference Smith, Brock and Paterson2015, fig. 6H).

With these factors in mind, the specimens from the Shackleton Limestone have only been tentatively included in Protowenella, with the caveat that if better-preserved specimens are discovered that entirely lack circumbilical channels, they should be removed from the genus (Brock, Reference Brock1998). A full redescription of all Protowenella specimens is necessary to resolve these problems. The degree of expansion and elongation of the apex is similar to figured specimens of Protowenella sp. from the middle Cambrian of Siberia (Gubanov et al., Reference Gubanov, Kouchinsky, Peel and Bengtson2004, fig. 10). Another planispiral, Protowenella-like univalved mollusk from Shackleton Limestone has been figured but not described (Rowell et al., Reference Rowell, Evans and Rees1988b, pl. 1, figs. O, P) and is referred to only as a ‘euomphalid mollusk.’

Type species

Yochelcionella cyrano Runnegar and Pojeta, Reference Runnegar and Pojeta1974 by original designation, Cambrian Series 3, ‘first discovery limestone’ Member of the Coonigan Formation, New South Wales, Australia.

Description

Cyrtoconic, moderately bilaterally compressed steinkerns with cylindrical subapical extension or cross section of shell forming a snorkel. Apex positioned above commencement of snorkel in lateral view. Protoconch rounded with distinctive pinching marking transition between protoconch and teleoconch; one specimen with faint polygonal imprints (Fig. 2). Subapical field short and concave, supra-apical field evenly convex. Elongate oval aperture broken in both specimens. Faint transverse rugae present between protoconch and snorkel. Irregular pitted microstructural imprints in surface of the teleoconch steinkern, 2–5 µm wide.

Remarks

Although the specimens are damaged, they appear most similar to Yochelcionella chinensis Pei, Reference Pei1985 as both specimens show displacement of the apical part of the shell above the snorkel away from the subapical field (Pei, Reference Pei1985, fig. 1a). Specimens from the Shackleton Limestone have rounded, rapidly expanding protoconchs with a distinctive pinch at the transition to the teleoconch (Fig. 6.1, 6.2). The specimens can be distinguished from Y. gracilis Atkins and Peel, Reference Atkins and Peel2004 from the Henson Gletscher Formation (Cambrian Stages 2–3) of North Greenland by their convex supra-apical field, where Y. gracilis has a concave supra-apical field (Atkins and Peel, Reference Atkins and Peel2004, fig. 3A, F). Yochelcionella greenlandica Atkins and Peel, Reference Atkins and Peel2004 from the Aftenstjernesø Formation (Cambrian Stage 2) of North Greenland has a similar displacement in the subapical field below the snorkel (Atkins and Peel, Reference Atkins and Peel2004, fig. 2B, D, L, N) but has well-developed rugae, which are fewer in number and much larger than Yochelcionella sp. from the Shackleton Limestone (Fig. 6.2, 6.5–6.8; see Atkins and Peel, Reference Atkins and Peel2004, fig. 2A, F, J). Specimens of Y. crassa Esakova and Zhegallo, Reference Esakova and Zhegallo1996 from the Bystraya Formation (Siberian Botoman Stage), Eastern Transbaikalia, figured by Parkhaev (Reference Parkhaev2014, pl. 1, figs. 15–18), show a similar strongly concave subapical field and highly reduced rugae, but the Shackleton Limestone specimens are not well preserved enough to draw closer comparisons. The rounded protoconch, pinching, fine rugae, and displacement are also present in Yochelcionella cf. Y. chinensis from the Forteau Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4), Newfoundland (Skovsted and Peel, Reference Skovsted and Peel2007, fig. 4D). Specimens preserve a pitted microstructure on the steinkern exteriors of the teleoconchs (Fig. 6.5, 6.6). Microstructure preserved on steinkerns of Yochelcionella has been reported previously. Vendrasco et al. (Reference Vendrasco, Porter, Kouchinsky, Li and Fernandez2010) described laminar and polygonal microstructures (pl. 6) on Y. saginata Vendrasco et al., Reference Vendrasco, Porter, Kouchinsky, Li and Fernandez2010 and Y. snorkorum Vendrasco et al., Reference Vendrasco, Porter, Kouchinsky, Li and Fernandez2010, inverted relative to those seen on other micromullusks (i.e., the polygon is raised and the walls between them are depressed) from the Drumian Gowers Formation from the Geogina Basin in Queensland, Australia. Kouchinsky (Reference Kouchinsky2000) described Yochelcionella sp. from the lower Cambrian of Siberia that preserved both polygons (with normal relief) and tubercles at the apex (Kouchinsky, Reference Kouchinsky2000, fig. 9). These five microstructural types, laminar, inverted polygons, normal polygons, tubercles, and now pits, on a single genus of helcionelloid represents a wide range of strategies for biomineralization.

Wrona (Reference Wrona2003) reported a single specimen of Yochelcionella? sp. from glacial erratics of King George Island, West Antarctica. The specimen is poorly preserved, with no information on the teleoconch below the snorkel (Wrona, Reference Wrona2003, fig. 13A₁). The apex has a similar rounded shape to the Shackleton Limestone specimens (Fig. 6.1, 6.7, 6.8; Wrona, Reference Wrona2003, fig. 13A₁).

Type species

Stenotheca cornucopia Salter in Hicks, Reference Hicks1872 by original designation, lower Cambrian, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The type specimen was reported lost while on loan from the Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990).

Description

Bilaterally compressed steinkern, coiled to one-quarter of a whorl. Hooked apex, with entire protoconch displaced beyond subapical margin. Apertural length 0.3–0.5 mm, total height 0.35–0.55 mm. Distinct pinching at termination of protoconch, which is knob-like, elongated, and straight. Supra-apical field convex and almost flat from apex to mid-shell length. Subapical field short and concave. Lateral fields almost flat. Apertural outline elliptical in outline. Smooth regular transverse rugae present encircling teleoconch. Partial preservation of pseudomorphic phosphatic coating shows transverse ribs with more relief, closely packed nearer to the aperture (furrows 6–9 µm wide) and more widely spaced toward the apex (furrows 13–23 µm wide) (Fig. 6.14).

Remarks

These specimens are assigned to Stenotheca due to their strong bilateral compression and recurvature (Fig. 6.9–6.16, 6.19–6.21). Most specimens retain transverse rugae on the exterior of the steinkern teleoconch (Fig. 6.8, 6.9) and, in one specimen, part of the external mold with lirae (Fig. 6.14). These features are present on Stenotheca cf. S. drepanoida from the Parara and Ajax limestones from South Australia (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, fig. 163B–E). The recurved morphology and bilateral compression are similar to other figured specimens of Stenotheca drepanoida (He and Ting in He et al., Reference He, Pei and Fu1984) from the Xinji Formation (He et al., Reference He, Pei and Fu1984, pl. 2, figs. 1–5; Feng et al., Reference Feng, Qian and Rong1994, pl. 3, figs. 3, 6) of North China. The morphology of Stenotheca sp. is similar to the apical parts of S. drepanoida in having strong bilateral symmetry and recurvature (Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 43, figs. 1–6) and an egg-shaped protoconch, with a pinch at the transition to the teleoconch (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, fig. 163G; Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, pl. 43, figs. 8, 9). This feature is not present on all specimens assigned to S. drepanoida; specimens from the Mernmerna Formation of South Australia have a slender, slowly expanding apex without a clear transition to the teleoconch (Topper et al., Reference Topper, Brock, Skovsted and Paterson2009, fig. 10B–D). Stenotheca transbaikalica Parkhaev, Reference Parkhaev2004a also has a similar apical part of the shell, with a straightened, more elongate protoconch at an angle to the teleoconch on the subapical field (Parkhaev, Reference Parkhaev2004a, pl. 2, fig. 3).

Missing from the Shackleton Limestone specimens is information on the aperture. For this reason, Stenotheca sp. has been left in open nomenclature. This may be a taphonomic loss of information potentially due to steinkern-type preservation partially forming molds within quickly dissolving aragonitic shells (i.e., teilsteinkerns). Evidence for this can be seen in the truncation of the rugae at the apertural margin of the specimens (Fig. 6.10, 6.19–6.21) and the relatively small size when compared to specimens from other regions (cf. Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., Reference Gravestock2001, p. 183).

Type species

Anabarella plana Vostokova Reference Vostokova1962 by original designation, Nemakit-Daldynian–Tommotian Stages, Siberia, Russia.

Description

Strongly bilaterally compressed steinkerns, rapidly expanding and coiled to less than half a whorl. Apex strongly recurved, with subapical field almost circular in profile, subapical margin extended by short parietal train (Fig. 6.17, 6.18). Supra-apical field evenly convex; lateral fields flat. Aperture narrow ellipsis, slightly tapering toward subapical margin. External ornament evident by faint rugae. Extensive polygonal microstructures on younger parts of steinkern but smooth at apex.

Remarks

The specimens are assigned to Anabarella rather than another stenothecid genus due to the greater shell recurvature, subcircular subapical field, and coiling through more than half a whorl (Gubanov and Peel, Reference Gubanov and Peel2003). In profile, these specimens are most comparable to Anabarella australis, with recurvature and a subapical field similar to A. australis (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990). The polygonal imprints on the surface of the steinkern (Fig. 6.17, 6.18, 6.22) have been observed on the aperture below the apex on some specimens of A. australis (Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, fig. 164N; Parkhaev Reference Parkhaev2004b, pl. 2, figs. 3, 4), but it lacks the prismatic and fibrous imprints also found on Anabarella plana Vostokova, Reference Vostokova1962 (Kouchinsky, Reference Kouchinsky1999). The profile of the specimens from the Shackleton Limestone are most similar to A. australis, but the low number of specimens and polygonal microstructure (typically not present on A. australis) covering the surface of the steinkern prohibit a definitive assignment.

Remarks

The asymmetrically coiled pelagiellids are one of the better candidates to be considered stem-group gastropods known from the lower Cambrian fossil record. As mentioned previously, authors have indicated an affinity for the gastropods (the Paragastropoda of Lindsey and Kier, Reference Lindsey and Kier1984 included pelagiellids) or placement within a gastropod order (e.g., ‘Archaeogastropoda’ Thiele, Reference Thiele1925; see Landing et al., Reference Landing, Geyer and Bartowski2002; Parkhaev, Reference Parkhaev2017a). Their exact placement on the poorly understood stem of the gastropods remains contentious, however, and an ordinal designation to taxa in the gastropod crown-group will not be made here.

Type species

Cyrtolites atlantoides Matthew, Reference Matthew1894 by original designation, from the Cambrian Series 2–3 Hanford Brook Formation, St. John Group of New Brunswick, Canada.

Pelagiella cf. P. subangulata (Tate, Reference Tate1892)
Figure 5.1–5.16

See Supplementary file 1 for taxa assigned to Pelagiella subangulata.

Figure 5. Yochelcionella sp., Stenotheca sp., and Anabarella cf. A. australis Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990 from the Shackleton Limestone. (1–8) Yochelcionella sp., (1–5) specimen SMNH Mo185063, (1) lateral view, (2) apertural view, (3) apical view of subapical field and broken snorkel, (4) magnified view of concentric structures within snorkel, (5) magnified view of pitted microstructure; (6, 7) specimen SMNH Mo185064, (6) magnification of lateral view, (7) lateral view; (8) specimen SMNH Mo185065, lateral view. (9–16, 19–21) Stenotheca sp. (9, 10) specimen SMNH Mo185066, (9) oblique lateral view, (10) dorsal view; (11–13) specimen SMNH Mo185067, (11) oblique lateral view, (12) dorsal view of subapical field, (13) apical view; (14) specimen SMNH Mo185068, lateral view; (15, 16) specimen SMNH Mo185069, (15) oblique lateral view, (16) dorsal view; (19) specimen SMNH Mo185071 in lateral view; (20) specimen SMNH Mo185072 lateral view; (21) specimen SMNH Mo185073 lateral view; (17, 18, 22) Anabarella cf. A. australis (17, 18) specimen SMNH Mo185070 in (18) lateral view, (17) apertural view (22) specimen SMNH Mo185074 in lateral view. Scale bars 100 µm (5, 6) all others 200 µm. All images taken using secondary electrons except (5) taken in low vacuum mode and (6, 7) taken using backscattered electrons.

Figure 6. Pelagiellids from the Shackleton Limestone. (1–16) Pelagiella cf. P. subangulata Tate, Reference Tate1892, (1–3) specimen SMNH Mo185054, (1) view of spiral side, (2) dorsal view, (3) dorsal view of supra-apical field; (4–6) specimen SMNH Mo185055, (4) apical view, (5) apical view, (6) dorsal view; (7, 8) specimen SMNH Mo185056, with possible hyolith operculum embedded in aperture, (7) oblique apertural view, (8) umbilical side; (9, 10) specimen SMNH Mo185057, (9) lateral view of abapical side, (10) oblique apertural view, showing curved groove passing through the umbilicus; (11, 12) specimen SMNH Mo185058, (11) apical view, (12) apertural view; (13–16) specimen SMNH Mo185059, (13) view of supra-apical field, (14) apical view, (15) dorsal view, (16); magnified dorsal view of part of the abapical side on the projecting wing, showing pustulose ornamentation. (17–26) Xinjispira simplex Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984, (17–21) specimen SMNH Mo185060, (17) oblique dorsal view of supra-apical field, (18) lateral view of abapical side, (19) lateral view of apical side, (20) magnification of internal mold with transverse fibrillar crystalline imprints, (21) view of supra-apical field; (22, 23), specimen SMNH Mo185061, (22) dorsal view, (23) lateral view of apical side; (24–26) specimen SMNH Mo185062, (24) apical view, (25) maginification of circumbilical channel on apical side, (26) magnification of transverse fibers on supra-apical surface of the steinkern. (16, 20, 24) Scale bars = 100 µm; all others, scale bars = 200 µm. All images taken using secondary electrons except (24–26) taken using backscattered electrons.

Lectotype

SAMP1234a, South Australian Museum, Palaeontological Collections, Adelaide, Australia, designated by Runnegar in Bengston et al. (Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990) from the Cambrian Stage 4 Parara Limestone, near Ardrossan, South Australia, Dailyatia odyssei Zone.

Occurrence

Pelagiella subangulata is known from Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4 of South Australia, Laurentia, and South China. Possible specimens known from Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4 of East Antarctica, the Great Basins area of the United States, and the middle Cambrian of Germany.

Description

Anisometrical, dextrally coiled shells with a little over three-quarters of a whorl. Shells rapidly expanding, with slender apex and no clear distinction between teleoconch and protoconch. Total length of steinkerns 0.58 mm–0.64 mm, height 0.38 mm–0.48 mm. In well-preserved specimens, aperture flares outward from lateral margin of umbilical side, forming subtriangular apertural outline, 0.4 mm long and 0.2–0.3 mm wide. Spiral side slightly concave; one specimen preserves distinct narrow ridge (~70 µm high) commencing from near subapical surface and extending to aperture (Fig. 5.9, 5.10). One specimen preserves phosphatic (pseudomorphic) shell material with clear rows of pustulose ornament on the flank of the umbilical side (Fig. 5.13–5.16) converging along shell dorsum. Faint concentric growth lines visible on the concave spiral side of same specimen.

Remarks

Gradational forms between different species of Pelagiella have been identified by numerous authors. Runnegar in Bengtson et al. (Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, p. 253–254) recognized Pelagiella subangulata from South Australia to be variable in size and shape and grade into Pelagiella adunca (He and Pei in He et al., Reference He, Pei and Fu1984). Parkhaev in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001, p. 194) described a gradation in forms between P. subangulata and Pelagiella madianensis (Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984), but the majority of forms have the general morphologies of one species or the other, and Parkhaev in Gravestock et al., (Reference Gravestock2001) synonymized P. adunca with P. subangulata.

Such difficulties in the discrimination of species of Pelagiella have often been overlooked in systematic work. Parkhaev in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001, p. 193) included P. emeishanensis He in Xing et al., Reference Xing, Ding, Luo, He and Wang1984 and P. lorenzi Kobayashi, Reference Kobayashi1939 from ‘lower Cambrian’ Ludwigsdorf Member, Charlottenhof Formation, Saxony (Elicki Reference Elicki1994, Reference Elicki1996) in P. subangulata without explanation. Wotte and Sundberg (Reference Wotte and Sundberg2017) provided an extensive synonymy list with their description of Pelagiella aff. P. subangulata. None of the new synonymies were given with an explanation, and they followed Parkhaev in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001). Many of those included appear to be based on general similarities to P. subangulata in overall shape, with no information on microstructure, apertural morphology, or ornamentation. The same broad concept is applied by Wotte and Sundberg (Reference Wotte and Sundberg2017) to P. subangulata specimens from the ‘lower to middle Cambrian’ Campo Pisano Formation, Sardinia (Elicki, Reference Elicki2002; Elicki et al., Reference Elicki, Hamman and Münzberger2003), the ‘middle Cambrian’ Láncarna Formation, Spain (Wotte, Reference Wotte2006), and the Marianian (Cambrian ?Stages 3–4) Upper Ludwigsdorf Member, Charlottenshof Formation, Saxony (Elicki, Reference Elicki2003). These should be only tentatively assigned to P. subangulata (Supplementary file 1), as the specimens are unornamented steinkerns, lacking microstructural details and often poorly preserved (Elicki, Reference Elicki2002, pl. 1; Elicki, Reference Elicki2003, pl. 2, fig. 1; Elicki et al., Reference Elicki, Hamman and Münzberger2003, pl. 5, figs. 3–5; Wotte, Reference Wotte2006, fig. 5n–p).

Specimens from the Shackleton Limestone are tentatively assigned to Pelagiella cf. P. subangulata based only on general morphological features. These include rapidly expanding whorls (Fig. 5.1, 5.9, 5.14), an initially concave then convex apical side (Fig. 5.2, 5.6), and a projecting wing on the abapical side (Fig. 5.2, 5.12, 5.15; see also Runnegar in Bengtson et al., Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, p. 254). The variation displayed in specimens from the Shackleton Limestone are both morphological and taphonomic. Specimens range from having a broader aperture (Fig. 5.2, 5.7, 5.12) to a narrower aperture (Fig. 5.5, 5.6). The low number of P. cf. P. subangulata steinkerns from the Shackleton Limestone (27 steinkerns), with only one similar to the P. madianensis morphology, does not allow a detailed comparison of aperture size and shape and degree of coiling. Two figured specimens (Fig. 5.7–5.10) show clear taphonomic artifacts common to steinkern-type preservation. One specimen preserves a possible hyolith operculum in its aperture (Fig. 5.7, 5.8) and one material introduced then lost during formation, represented by a groove across the umbilicus of the steinkern in Figure 5.9–5.10.

A detailed study of Pelagiella madianensis from the Xinji Formation (Cambrian Series 2), North China, has recently shown the shell microstructure to be a complex of four hierarchical types, signifying complex and differentiated controls on biomineralization in early mollusks (Li et al., Reference Li, Zhang, Yun and Li2017). Unfortunately, steinkerns from the Shackleton Limestone have smooth surfaces lacking any remnant microstructure. One specimen has a pustulose ornamentation, running obliquely toward the aperture (Fig. 5.13, 5.15). This is similar to the ornament figured by Runnegar in Bengtson et al. (Reference Bengtson, Conway Morris, Cooper, Jell and Runnegar1990, fig. 167A–E) but lacks the clear chevron pattern of their specimen.

Type species

Xinjispira simplex Zhou and Xiao, Reference Zhou and Xiao1984 from the lower Cambrian Xinji Formation (=Yutaishan Formation), Anhui Province, China.

Holotype

No. 800096, Geological Institute, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China. Internal mold from the Xinji Formation (=Yutaishan Formation) of the lower Cambrian (Series 2) of the North China Platform of Anhui Province, China.

Occurrence

Xinjispira simplex is known from the Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4, of the southern margin of the North China Platform and from the Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3–4, of East Antarctica.

Description

Turbospiral, globose, coiled through almost one whorl. Slight projection of apex on apical side, but no spire present. Aperture rounded, with small projecting wing on abapical side of the shell. Aperture approximately 0.3 mm long and 0.4 mm wide. Total length 0.5–0.6 mm and height 0.4 mm. No clear distinction between protoconch and teleoconch, but may be marked by beginning of lirae. Pseudomorphic phosphatic shell coating with regular transverse lirae, 10 µm in width. Internal mold preserved imprints of comarginal fibrous bundles parallel to the ribs; some evidence of endolithic bacteria in form of phosphatized strands (Fig. 5.20). Umbilicus present on one specimen, with circumbilical channel (Fig. 5.25, 5.26).

Remarks

Xinjispira was assigned to the pelagiellids by Zhou and Xiao (Reference Zhou and Xiao1984), but later authors assigned them to the macluritids (Yu and Rong, Reference Yu and Rong1991; Feng et al., Reference Feng, Qian and Rong1994), in both cases considered gastropods. Yu and Rong (Reference Yu and Rong1991, p. 344) go so far as to say their specimens are missing their operculae. Parkhaev in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001) and Parkhaev (Reference Parkhaev2002, Reference Parkhaev2007a) placed Xinjispira with the family Khairkhaniidae Missarzhevsky, Reference Missarzhevsky1989. The use of the family Khairkaniidae as defined in Parkhaev in Gravestock et al. (Reference Gravestock2001) and Parkhaev (Reference Parkhaev2002) is not used here due to issues regarding the inclusion of symmetric (Protowenella) and asymmetric (e.g., Xinjispira, Barskovia Golubev, Reference Golubev1976) forms, under the assumption that they form a phylogenetic series. As no formal phylogenetic analysis has been performed to support this hypothesis, Xinjispira is tentatively included here with the pelagiellids. The inclusion in the pelagiellids is supported by their lack of spire on the concave apical side (Fig. 5.19, 5.23, 5.25), small projecting wing on the abapical side of the shell (Fig. 5.17, 5.21), and transverse fibrous microstructure preserved on the steinkern (Fig. 5.20, 5.24; cf. Li et al., Reference Li, Zhang, Yun and Li2017, fig. 3), which indicate an affinity with this family. Although microstructural imprints do not always preserve and similar patterns can appear in different lineages of early shelled molluscs, this microstructure, lack of spire, and noncircular aperture lead to a stronger argument for their inclusion in the pelagiellids.

Specimens figured by Zhou and Xiao (Reference Zhou and Xiao1984), Feng et al. (Reference Feng, Qian and Rong1994), Yu (Reference Yu1990), Yu and Rong (Reference Yu and Rong1991), and Yun et al. (Reference Yun, Zhang, Li, Zhang and Liu2016) from the Xinji Formation are all ‘sinistrally’ coiled (when viewed from the apical, older end of the shell), whereas under the same scheme, Xinjispira simplex specimens from the Shackleton Limestone would be considered ‘dextrally’ coiled. In a review of shell chirality in the Cambrian asymmetrically coiled univalved mollusk Aldanella Vostokova Reference Vostokova1962, Parkhaev (Reference Parkhaev2007b) agreed with earlier conclusions of Landing (Reference Landing1988) and Landing et al. (Reference Landing, Myrow, Benus and Narbonne1989) that chiral members of the same species are ‘aberrations’ or exceptions, that is, those that coil in the opposite direction to most members of a species. From the Tommotian Stage of Siberia, sinistral forms of Aldanella from a single stratigraphic horizon were reported and speculated to be members of a new species, rather than aberrations (Parkhaev, Reference Parkhaev2007b; but see Jacquet et al., Reference Jacquet, Brougham, Skovsted, Jago, Laurie, Betts, Topper and Brock2017 for comments on Australian sinistral Aldanella). In their diagnosis of Pelagiellidae, Lindsey and Kier (Reference Lindsey and Kier1984, p. 250) included only dextral forms, indicating the sinistral forms of Xinjispira simplex could not be included in the family. Whether X. simplex from the Shackleton Limestone can be considered ‘aberrant’ or of a new species is uncertain due to their low abundance. A comprehensive review of sinistrally coiled forms of Cambrian helcionelloids is probably necessary to resolve the paleobiological relevance of chirality and resolve taxonomic questions.

Only Yu and Rong (Reference Yu and Rong1991, p. 344) report ‘growth lines’ ornamenting the surface, but this is not defined, or clear in their figures, whereas Antarctic specimens retain both transverse fibrous microstructure (Fig. 5.20, 5.24) on the steinkern and transverse costae (Fig. 5.17–5.19, 5.21–5.23) on phosphatized exteriors. Of the two Shackleton Limestone specimens, one has a well-developed but small projecting wing (Fig. 5.17, 5.21) similar to that figured in Zhou and Xiao (Reference Zhou and Xiao1984, pl. 4, fig. 7c) and Feng et al. (Reference Feng, Qian and Rong1994, pl. 2, fig. 18), which is apparently not always well preserved or developed. Yu (Reference Yu1987b, p. 210) described two umbilical channels on the apical and abapical sides of Xinjispira, similar to those preserved on steinkerns of Protowenella. Circumbilical channels are exposed on a specimen of X. simplex from the Shackleton Limestone that is lacking an external phosphatic coating (Fig. 5.25, 5.26).

Remarks

The placement of Scenella in the chondrophorine (or porpitid) hydrozoans has been reviewed in detail by Landing et al. (Reference Landing, Antcliffe, Geyer, Kouchinsky, Bowser and Andreas2018, p. 113–114), who concluded Scenella is a mollusk and the “chondrophorine paradigm” of incorrectly identified Cambrian macromollusks is unwarranted. This better resolved placement in the mollusks is unlikely to resolve its taxonomic position. The genus has, for example, been considered a member of the helcionellaceans, within the monoplacophora (Runnegar and Jell, Reference Runnegar and Jell1976) and as a helcionelloid (Peel, Reference Peel, Simonetta and Conway Morris1991a; see Isakar and Peel, Reference Isakar and Peel2007, p. 255–256 for a review of the taxonomic history of Scenella as a mollusk). Due to the low number of specimens described here and the uncertainty surrounding the taxonomy of Scenella, an attempt to rectify its higher taxonomic relationships shall not be made.

Type species

Scenella reticulata Billings, Reference Billings1872 by original designation, from the Branchian Stage (Series 2) Brigus Formation of Newfoundland, Canada.

Scenella? sp.
Figure 7

Figure 7. Scenella? sp. from the Shackleton Limestone. (1–3) Specimen SMNH Mo185075, (1) oblique view along supra-apical field, (2) lateral view, (3) apical view. (4, 5) Specimen SMNH Mo185076, (4) apical view, (5) lateral view, angled obliquely toward subapical field. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Description

Patelliform, univalved, low, blunt shells and very rapidly expanding. Single unbroken specimen has apetural length 9.8 mm and width 8.5 mm; elliptical in outline. Height 3.1 mm; specimen three times as long as it is high. Apex offset from center; subapical field less than half the length of the supra-apical field, creating an angle of ca. 110°. Both fields gently convex; supra-apical field concave nearer to apex. Protoconch poorly preserved; apical parts of both specimens damaged. External ornamentation consists of fine radial ribs. No concentric growth lines or ribs present. No muscle scars visible.

Remarks

Placement of the specimens of Scenella? sp. from the Shackleton Limestone in a group of similar, simple, patelliform mollusks is problematic. As noted in Jacquet and Brock (Reference Jacquet and Brock2016), Scenella is a wastebasket taxon of dubious taxonomic validity. Its problematic history once led to its inclusion in the derived group of chondrophorine hydrozoans (e.g., Yochelson and Gil Cid, Reference Yochelson and Gil Cid1984; Babcock and Robison, Reference Babcock and Robison1988; Narbonne et al., Reference Narbonne, Myrow, Landing and Anderson1991). It is herein considered a mollusk, following its reidentification by a number of authors (e.g., Conway Morris and Peel, Reference Conway Morris and Peel2013; Peel, Reference Peel1991b, Reference Peel2003; Landing and Narbonne, Reference Landing and Narbonne1992; Geyer, Reference Geyer1994; Landing et al., Reference Landing, Antcliffe, Geyer, Kouchinsky, Bowser and Andreas2018). In lieu of a much-needed systematic revision of the genus, the specimens from the Shackleton Limestone are referred to Scenella? sp. due to the broadly encompassing description of the genus as having a low patelliform profile (Fig. 7.2, 7.5), subcentral apex, elliptical outline (Fig. 7.3), and subdued concentric rugae and lirae (Billings, Reference Billings1872, p. 479; Knight, Reference Knight1941, p. 309–310, pl. 2, fig. 5a–e). The specimens from the Shackleton Limestone fit all criteria except the presence of either concentric comarginal rugae or growth lines, only bearing fine radial ribs (Fig. 7). Scenella? sp. from the Shackleton Limestone shares this lack of concentric features with Scenella amii (Matthew, Reference Matthew1902) from the middle Cambrian Stephen Formation of British Colombia, Canada, and Scenella radians Babcock and Robison, Reference Babcock and Robison1988 from the Drumian (Series 3) Spence Shale and Chisholm Formation of Utah, USA, but compares more closely to the latter. Figured specimens of S. radians also share the offset apex and concave part of the supra-apical field just below the apex (Babcock and Robison, Reference Babcock and Robison1988, fig. 4.1–4.5). The lack of concentric features prevents a more certain inclusion of the Shackleton Limestone specimens in the genus Scenella and indicates that species such as S. amii and S. radians may also be incorrectly placed in this genus. The diagnosis for S. radians is also written under the assumption it is a chondrophonrine hydrozoan, hindering a better comparison to other Cambrian univalved mollusks (Babcock and Robison, Reference Babcock and Robison1988, p. 10). Scenella? sp. differs from the similarly ornamented and shaped Scenella barrandei (Linnarsson, Reference Linnarsson1879) in having an elliptical, rather than subrectangular, apertural outline (Berg-Madsen and Peel, Reference Berg-Madsen and Peel1986, fig. 2d) and lack of comarginal rugae (Berg-Madsen and Peel, Reference Berg-Madsen and Peel1986, figs. 2c, 3e). The type species, S. reticulata, has a distinct reticulate ornamentation formed by radial and concentric ribs. Figures in Knight (Reference Knight1941, pl. 2, fig. 5a–e) and Landing (Reference Landing1988, fig. 12.1, 12.2) show S. reticulata has a higher shell and apex offset further over the subapical field, giving the subapical field an almost vertical profile.

Scenella? sp. from the Shackleton Limestone can be excluded from the similar monospecific genus Estoniadiscus Peel Reference Peel2003 from the lower Cambrian Tiskre Formation of Estonia, as Estoniadiscus has ‘wrinkled’ periodic ribs and a more circular, less elliptical outline. The apex is also offset toward the supra-apical field. These features are figured by Peel (Reference Peel2003) for the species Estoniadiscus discinoides (Schmidt, Reference Schmidt1888). From the monospecific Galeaclavus Jacquet and Brock, Reference Jacquet and Brock2016 from the Third Plains Creek Member of the Mernmerna Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3) of South Australia, Scenella? sp. can be excluded due to a lack of faint comarginal growth lines present on Galeaclavus coronarius (Jacquet and Brock, Reference Jacquet and Brock2016, fig. 12 A, D) and G. coronarius having a more inclined apex. Scenella? sp. also has a much lower profile, with height-to-length ratio of 0.31, just below the lowest measured height-to-length ratio of 0.33 for G. coronarius.