The pliomerid trilobite Ibexaspis and related new genera, with species from the Early Ordovician (Floian; Tulean, Blackhillsian) of the Great Basin, western USA
Author
E. B, Neo
Author
Adrain, Jonathan M.
Author
Karim, Talia S.
text
Zootaxa
2018
2018-11-27
4525
1
1
152
journal article
27906
10.11646/zootaxa.4525.1.1
aab5d525-1d70-4a48-9469-43d4e446685d
1175-5326
2610805
9D378750-982F-4061-A419-B28E8DDFF825
Deltapliomera
n. gen.
Type
species.
Deltapliomera humphriesi
n. sp.
, from the Fillmore Formation (Blackhillsian;
Carolinites nevadensis
Zone
), southern Confusion Range, Ibex area, Millard County, western
Utah
,
USA
.
Other species.
Deltapliomera inglei
n. sp.
, Fillmore Formation (Tulean;
Heckethornia bowiei
Zone
), western
Utah
;
D. heimbergi
n. sp.
, Fillmore Formation (Tulean;
Panisaspis sevierensis
Zone), western
Utah
;
D. eppersoni
n. sp.
, Fillmore Formation (Blackhillsian;
Bathyurina plicolabeona
Zone
), western
Utah
;
Deltapliomera
n. sp. A, Fillmore Formation (Tulean;
Panisaspis sevierensis
Zone), western
Utah
.
Etymology.
The town of Delta,
Utah
, and the genus name
Pliomera
. Gender is feminine.
Diagnosis.
Sagittal glabellar height in anterior view 29.9–35.0% width across posterior projections (excluding genal spines); anterior course of axial furrows strongly anteriorly divergent; size of librigenal field reduced, trapezoidal in shape; posterior branch of facial suture along lateral border very short; tuberculate sculpture on first pygidial axial ring usually effaced at least medially; distal tips of pygidial pleural spines usually expanded and club-shaped.
Discussion.
Deltapliomera
was recovered as sister to
Millardaspis
in the phylogenetic analysis, and the taxa share a reduction in later ontogeny of clusters of tubercles on the glabellar lateral lobes that are prominent early; librigenal fields with a swollen rim adjacent to the lateral border furrow; and very broad librigenal lateral border furrows.
Species of
Deltapliomera
occur at several horizons with more or less equally common species of
Ibexaspis
. There is little question of correct association of sclerites, however, as species belonging to either genus also occur at some horizons in the absence of any member of the other genus.
Ibexaspis rupauli
and
I. leuppi
do not occur with any other member of the overall clade, nor does
D. inglei
. Reference to the morphology of these species removes any potential confusion when species do co-occur.