Redescription of a <i>Lotagnostus–Mendoparabolina</i> faunule (Trilobita; late Furongian) from Quebrada San Isidro, Precordillera of Mendoza, Argentina

Lotagnostus is a biostratigraphically important late Furongian (late Cambrian) agnostoid trilobite whose interspecific and intraspecific variability is currently under discussion. In this context, type material of Lotagnostus atenuatus Rusconi, from an open-marine black limestone allochthonous block...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Tortello, Marcelo Franco
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2018
Country:Argentina
Institution:Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Repository:SEDICI (UNLP)
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/141321
Online Access:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/141321
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Ciencias Naturales
Furongian
Trilobita
Lotagnostus
Mendoparabolina
Precordillera
Argentina
Description
Summary:Lotagnostus is a biostratigraphically important late Furongian (late Cambrian) agnostoid trilobite whose interspecific and intraspecific variability is currently under discussion. In this context, type material of Lotagnostus atenuatus Rusconi, from an open-marine black limestone allochthonous block (La Cruz Olistolith) of Quebrada San Isidro, Precordillera of Mendoza, western Argentina, is revised herein. It includes several three-dimensionally preserved sclerites, allowing for an emended diagnosis of this species and comprehensive comparisons with other forms of Lotagnostus. Although to date L. atenuatus can be identified with confidence only at Quebrada San Isidro, it strongly resembles fragmentary material of Lotagnostus sp. indet., from late Furongian dysoxic upper slope facies of the Central Appalachians in eastern North America. The olenid Mendoparabolina brevicauda Rusconi, which is recorded in association with L. atenuatus, is also redescribed here. Mendoparabolina is closely allied with Wujiajiania Lu and Lin and Bienvillia Clark, differing by having a proportionately long and transversely bilobate pygidium with a posteriorly truncate axis and a postaxial median ridge.