Anette Högström

The scleritome of Paterimitra: an Early Cambrian stem group brachiopod from South Australia

Early Cambrian tommotiids are problematic fossil metazoans with external organophosphatic sclerites that have been considered to be basal members of the lophophorate stem group. Tommotiids are almost exclusively known from isolated or rarely fused individual sclerites, which made previous reconstructions of the actual organism highly conjectural. However, the recent discovery of the first articulated specimens of the tommotiid Eccentrotheca revealed a tubular sclerite arrangement (scleritome) that limited the possible life habit to sessile filter feeding and thus further supported a lophophorate affinity. Here, we report the first articulated specimens of a second tommotiid taxon, Paterimitra from the Early Cambrian of the Arrowie Basin, South Australia. Articulated specimens of Paterimitra are composed of two bilaterally symmetrical sclerite types and an unresolved number of small, asymmetrical and irregular crescent-shaped sclerites that attached to the anterior margin of the symmetrical sclerites. Together, the sclerites form an open cone in which the symmetrical sclerites are joined together and form a small posterior opening near the base of the scleritome, while the irregular crescent-shaped sclerites defined a broad anterior opening. The coniform scleritome of Paterimitra is interpreted to have attached to hard substrates via a pedicle that emerged through the small posterior opening (sometimes forming a tube) and was probably a sessile filter feeder. The scleritome of Paterimitra can be derived from the tubular scleritome of Eccentrotheca by modification of basal sclerites and reduction in tube height, and probably represents a more derived member of the brachiopod stem group with the paired symmetrical sclerites possibly homologous to brachiopod valves.

New Ordovician-Silurian drill cores from the Siljan impact structure in central Sweden: an integral part of the Swedish Deep Drilling Program

New drill cores from the largest known impact structure in Europe, the relict of the Siljan meteorite crater, provide new possibilities to reconstruct Early Palaeozoic marine environments and ecosystems, and to document changes in sedimentary facies, sea level and palaeoclimate in Baltoscandia. The impact crater is an important target of the project “Concentric Impact Structures in the Palaeozoic” within the framework of the “Swedish Deep Drilling Program”. Two core sections, Mora 001 and Solberga 1, have been analysed. The sedimentary successions of these core sections include strata of late Tremadocian through late Wenlock ages. Our preliminary studies show not only that several of the classical Palaeozoic units of Sweden are represented in the area, but also that other significantly different facies are preserved in the Siljan district. An erosional unconformity representing a substantial hiatus occurs between Middle Ordovician limestone and a Llandovery-Wenlock (Silurian) shale succession in the western part of the Siljan structure and suggests an extended period of uplift and erosion. This may be related to forebulge migration due to flexural loading by the Caledonian thrust sheet to the west. Thus, this part of Sweden, previously regarded as a stable cratonic area, presumably was affected by the Caledonian collision between Baltica and Laurentia.

Concentric impact structures in the Palaeozoic of Sweden – the Lockne and Siljan craters

The Ordovician age Lockne and Devonian Siljan craters are two of the largest impact structures in northern Europe. Both formed in targets with a thick, low-strength upper layer. This target configuration is known to generate concentric crater structures with an outer, shallow crater in the low-strength layer, surrounding a central, deeper crater in the more resistant substrate. The concentric craters of Lockne and Siljan are excellent models for studies of similar concentric craters on Earth and elsewhere in the Solar system. Several structural issues remain, and drilling through the craters within the Swedish Deep Drilling Program intends to address the following: the extent of the craters with respect to the time of impact; the effects of cratering on the basement; and the role of basement structure for the crater formation. A problem for the Lockne crater is the relation to the Caledonian orogeny and the lateral extension of the ejecta blanket – the rim is interrupted by a radial depression that has been interpreted both as primary and secondary, tectonically induced. A second feature to study is the deeper and older (1.82–1.80 Ga) NNW–SSE shear zones that cut the basement. In the Siljan area the development of mega block associations comprising the infilling of the graben is disputed. The blocks may either be formed by sagging of peripheral parts of the fault blocks or alternatively by major radial movement involving kilometre long transport.

The machaeridian Lepidocoleus sarlei Clarke, 1896, from the Rochester Shale (Silurian) of New York State

Eight new specimens and the holotype of Lepidocoleus sarlei Clarke, 1896 from Lagersta¨tten deposits within the Rochester Shale (Silurian, Wenlock) of New York are described to elucidate the morphology, function and construction of the scleritome. The material exhibits an unusual type of dorsal hinge with a pronounced antero-posterior displacement between the two sides. Two specimens have an aberrant sclerite on the right side of segment eleven. One tightly enrolled specimen may demonstrate a method of defence with the stronger protected dorsal side oriented outwards. The presence of a segmented body plan is suggested, based on requirements for a functional spiral enrolment. Distinct anterior and posterior morphologies together with the pattern of rugae provide valuable help in reconstructing disarticulated lepidocoleids.

A myriapod-like arthropod from the Upper Cambrian of East Siberia

Although the fossil record of biramous arthropods commences in the Lower Cambrian, unequivocal uniramous arthropods do not appear until the Upper Silurian, in association with terrestrial biotas. Here we report an Upper Cambrian marine arthropod from East Siberia that possesses some significant myriapodan features. The new arthropod,Xanthomyria spinosa n. gen., n. sp., closely resembles examples of archipolypodans from the Late Palaeozoic. If this resemblance genuinely represents myriapod affinities, this would be the first convincing myriapod from the Cambrian. Suggestions of an early branching point of the myriapods from other arthropods would be consistent with this. Conversely, an as yet poorly known clade of multi-segmented arthropods may exist in the Cambrian, with no close affinities to the myriapods.KurzfassungSpaltbeintragende Arthropoden sind bereits aus dem Unterkambrium bekannt, dagegen erscheinen unirame Arthropoden, gemeinsam mit ihren terrestrischen Lebensräumen, im Fossilbericht nicht vor dem Obersilur. In der vorliegenden Studie beschreiben wir einen marinen Arthropoden aus dem Oberkambrium Ostsibiriens, welcher mehrere deutliche Myriapodenmerkmale zeigt. Der neue Arthropode,Xanthomyria spinosa n. gen., n. sp., weist Ähnlichkeiten mit einigen Archipolypoden des Jungpaläozoikums auf. Sollten diese Ähnlichkeiten tatsächlich auf Zugehörigkeit zu den Myriapoden zurückzuführen sein, so wäre die neue Art der erste bekannte Vertreter der Myriapoden aus dem Kambrium. Dies wäre in Einklang mit der Annahme einer frühen Abspaltung der Myriapoden von anderen Arthropodengruppen. Andernfalls könnte im Kambrium eine nicht näher mit den Myriapoden verwandte, bisher kaum bekannte Gruppe vielsegmentiger Arthropoden existiert haben.

Shell repair following failed predation in two Upper Ordovician brachiopods from central Sweden

Abstract Shell repair is reported in two dorsal valves of the brachiopod Strophomena? arachnoidea Lindström, 1880 from the lower Ashgill Fjäcka Formation of the Siljan district, Dalarna. The most severe case displays a large wedge-shaped injury that cuts back about half the length of the animal. Substantial damage to the growing edge of the mantle resulted in malformation of the repaired area. The outline of the injury on the second specimen is also wedge-shaped, but of much less extent and with little disturbance of the subsequent growth pattern. Both injuries are interpreted as resulting from failed predation, with cephalopods being the most likely aggressors.

Terminal Ordovician stratigraphy of the Siljan district, Sweden

Integration of new isotopic data and earlier biostratigraphic information from eight sections through the terminal Ordovician (Pirgu and Porkuni stages) of the Siljan district, Sweden, allows a more precise correlation of sections in terms of biostratigraphy and carbon isotope dating. Four levels with positive δ13C excursions are identified (from bottom) – the Moe, an unnamed excursion, Paroveja and Hirnantian Carbon Isotope Excursion (HICE). The δ13C values through the Boda Limestone are 1–2‰ higher than usual in Baltica, only the values for the HICE remains within what is expected. Background values increase from 1.5‰ in the bottom of the core of the Boda Limestone up to 3‰ in the top of it. The HICE is identified in five of eight sections and the main peak falls according to inferred correlation within the Metabolograptus persculptus Biozone, at or close to the Hindella beds in the Upper Boda Member. The late Katian (Pirgu) age of Holorhynchus in the Siljan district is clear and its co-occurrence with the chitinozoan Belonechitina gamachiana in Estonia supports a Katian age for this zone. The base of the Ozarkodina hassi Biozone may occur within units B–C of the Upper Boda Member and in the upper part of the Loka Formation and most likely is correlated with the M. persculptus Biozone. The Hirnantia–Dalmanitina faunas reported from the lowermost part of the Loka Formation and units B–D of the Upper Boda Member seem to range through all the Hirnantian, but detailed morphological studies allow to distinguish an older ( = extraordinarius) and a younger ( = persculptus) fauna.

Chapter 15 Biogeography of Ordovician and Silurian gastropods, monoplacophorans and mimospirids

Abstract The biogeographical distribution of Ordovician and Silurian gastropods, monoplacophorans and mimospirids has been analysed on a generic level. The dataset contains 334 genera and 2769 species, yielding 1231 records of genera with 2274 occurrences worldwide. There is a bias towards eastern Laurentia, Baltica and Perunica records. Some 53.1% of the records are Ordovician. The study demonstrates that these molluscs are well suited to being used to improve understanding of Ordovician and Silurian biogeographical provinciality. Specific points are that: a Lower Ordovician assemblage is evident in Laurentia; the fauna of the Argentinean Precordillera is Laurentian until the Darriwilian, when taxa are shared with North China; Late Silurian gastropods from the Alexander terrane (SE Alaska) are unknown in Laurentia, but support a rift origin of this terrane from NE Siberia; Perunica, Ibero-Armorica and Morocco cluster together throughout the Ordovician but Perunica and Morocco are closer; Darriwilian–Sandbian deep-water Bohemian taxa occur in Baltica; a Laurentian–Baltica proximity is unsupported until the Silurian; Siberia clusters with North China and eastern Laurentia during the Tremadocian–Darriwilian; during the Gorstian–Pridoli Siberia clusters with the Farewell and Alexander terranes; North China may have been close to Laurentia and the Argentinean margin of Gondwana; and the affinity of Tarim taxa is problematic.

Trachyplax arctica, a new multiplated problematic fossil from the Lower Cambrian of North Greenland

A new scleritome-bearing organism with eight sclerite types, Trachyplax arctica gen. et sp. nov., is described from the lower Cambrian Paralledal Formation of North Greenland. The originally calcareous sclerites are now silicified; no microstructures are preserved. The dominant sclerite type (A; maximum dimension 19.3 mm) is bilaterally symmetrical, strongly arched, with an oval shield showing co-marginal growth lines and a projecting rostrum with prominent radial ornamentation. A similar sclerite morphology can be identified in Silurian—Carboniferous multiplacophoran molluscs but the remaining sclerite types, which also display a combination of concentric and radial ornamentation, find no clear equivalents. Two models for scleritome reconstruction are presented, based on the relative abundance of the sclerites, but neither promotes a satisfactory assignment to a higher taxon. Despite the morphological dissimilarities, possibly reflecting the age discrepancy, reference to the Multiplacophora is most attractive and entails a substantial extension of the known geological range of that group.

Armoured annelids and molluscs from the Upper Ordovician Boda Limestone, central Sweden

Sclerites of machaeridians (Annelida) and polyplacophorans (Mollusca) from the Upper Ordovician (Katian–Hirnantian) Boda Limestone of the Siljan district, central Sweden are described for the first time. Four taxa of machaeridians were found, but with one exception they are either known from a single isolated sclerite or only one type of sclerite. The largest taxon is represented by an inner modified sclerite of Plumulites sp. A from Osmundsberget Quarry. The complete scleritome is estimated to have reached a length of 12–15 cm. A more diverse material allows the description of Plumulites eueides sp. nov. from Kallholn Quarry. Within smaller cavities in Solberga Quarry minute sclerites of two taxa were found; Lepidocoleus sp., and Turrilepas sp. The latter record represents the third known Ordovician occurrence and the youngest from that period. Association with minute blind trilobites and concentrations of tiny articulated ostracodes suggest that these small cavities represented cryptic habitats. Two polyplacophoran sclerites are also described: one intermediate sclerite of Chelodes sp. A from Jutjärn Quarry, with only the outer surface exposed, and one intermediate sclerite of Spicuchelodes? sp. from Kallholn Quarry, with only the inner surface exposed. These represent rare examples of Ordovician chitons recorded from outside Laurentian terranes.