Trilobites and agnostids from the Goyder Formation (Cambrian Series 3, Guzhangian; Mindyallan), Amadeus Basin, central Australia
Author
Smith, Patrick M.
Author
Paterson, John R.
Author
Brock, Glenn A.
text
Zootaxa
2018
2018-03-19
4396
1
1
67
journal article
30484
10.11646/zootaxa.4396.1.1
918f2145-a708-460e-b19b-4f67e6c99b30
1175-5326
1202723
8EEBE6DE-0ECC-4B9C-AD14-01438291782B
Biaverta
reineri
Öpik, 1967
Fig. 25
1967
Biaverta
reineri
; Öpik, p. 371–372, pl. 39, figs 1–5.
?1989
Biaverta
sp. indet.; Wang, Mills, Webby, Shergold, p. 113, fig. 4Q.
Material.
Twelve cranidia figured, CPC42387–CPC42398. 24 cranidia not figured (mostly fragments).
Description.
Largest cranidium
5 mm
long (sag.). Cranidium subtrapeziform, length:width ratio 65%, maximum width across posterolateral projections of fixigena; narrowest point of cranidium at the γ–γ section, where it is about 60% of maximum cranidial width (tr.). Anterior margin strongly rounded; elevated medially being retroverted. Posterior margin strongly bowed forward (exsag.), moderately expanding abaxially. Anterior branches of facial suture (γ–α) converge anteriorly in a broad arc. Posterior branches of facial suture strongly curve towards posterolateral corners of cranidium. Axial furrow broad and indistinct. Glabella narrow (tr.) and moderately convex, with maximum convexity at about midwidth, width:length ratio of 81% to 82% (mean 81%; n = 3), occupying about 68% cranidial length; slightly tapering forward, width (tr.) across anterior 52% maximum width of glabella. Lateral glabellar furrows narrow (tr.) and deep. S1 short (tr.), directed transversely, becoming slightly wider (exsag.) adaxially before terminating. S2 parallel to and shorter (tr.) than S1; S3 effaced. Occipital ring moderately wide (sag.), narrowing abaxially; SO moderately narrow (sag.), bowed forward medially, deep and deepening abaxially. Faint circular bacculae, positioned opposite and behind L1. Anterior border strongly upturned medially; poorly defined, lacking anterior border furrow. Preglabellar field of moderate length, making up 26% of total sagittal length; strongly concave, preocular field strongly convex and strongly downsloping adaxially towards preglabellar field. Palpebral lobes absent. Eye ridges faintly defined on exterior surface, more visible exfoliated cranidia; extending from the anterolateral corners of the axial furrow in a slight anterior curve towards γ; eye ridges appear faintly bifurcated. Palpebral area situated forward on the cranidium, slightly forward of the glabella anterior; short (exsag.); convex, downsloping towards axial furrow and preglabellar field. Postocular field long (exsag.), 68% of sagittal cranidial length; wide (tr.), 72% of the maximum cranidial width; slightly downsloping medially towards the axial furrow and posteriorly near the posterior border furrow. Posterolateral projections of fixigena are flat with a steep downturn at the lateral extremities. Posterior border narrow (exsag.) and slightly wider abaxially. Posterior border furrow deep, narrow (exsag.), disappearing abaxially at the steep downturn near lateral extremities.
FIGURE 25.
Biaverta
reineri
Öpik, 1967
. All specimens come from sample GOY/173.6. A, N, O, P, CPC42387, partial cranidium; A, dorsal view; N, oblique anterolateral view; O, lateral view; P, anterior view. B, CPC42388, partial cranidium. C, I, CPC42389, partial cranidium; C, dorsal view; I, close up of ornament. D, CPC42390, partial cranidium. E, CPC42391, partial cranidium. F, CPC42392, partial cranidium. G, CPC42393, partial cranidium. H, CPC42394, partial cranidium. J, CPC42395, partial cranidium. K, CPC42396, partial cranidium. L, CPC42397, partial cranidium. M, CPC42398, partial cranidium. All scale bars are 1 mm.
Prosopon consists of minute granules interconnected to form a dense reticulated pattern covering the palpebral area. Small, dense granules cover the anterior border, glabella, preocular field, eye ridges and posterolateral projections. Preglabellar field with faint caecal veins all directed anteriorly. Axial furrow smooth.
Hypostome, rostral plate, librigena, thorax and pygidium unknown.
Discussion.
These distinctive cranidia are commonly found in the upper sandy limestone beds of the GOY section. The Goyder Formation specimens are essentially identical to
Biaverta
reineri
Öpik, 1967
from the Mindyallan Mungerebar Limestone in the
Georgina Basin (Öpik 1967)
. Specimens from both localities have the characteristic slightly upturned anterior border, preglabellar field of moderate length that is laterally strongly concave and medially slightly convex, as well as a prosopon of dense minute granules (compare
Fig. 25A–M
with Öpik 1967, pl. 39, fig. 1–5). The specimens from the Goyder Formation only vary marginally from the
holotype
found in the Mungerebar Limestone in possessing well developed lateral glabellar furrows and eye ridges, although this may be attributed to preservational quality; the Mungerebar Limestone material is relatively poorly preserved, especially the coarsely silicified specimens (e.g., Öpik 1967, pl. 39, fig. 3–5).
Biaverta
reineri
is distinguished from the only other named species,
B. biaverta
Öpik, 1967
, by its less upturned anterior border and longer preglabellar field.
Specimens of
B
.
reineri
from the Goyder Formation also resemble a single, poorly preserved cranidium described by
Wang
et al
. (1989)
as
Biaverta
sp. from the Mindyallan Boshy Formation, N.S.W. Both the Goyder Formation material and N.S.W. specimen share the slightly upturned anterior border and longer (sag.) preglabellar field that is typical of
B. reineri
. Given that the N.S.W cranidium has been distorted and is coarsely preserved in sandstone, it is only questionably synonymised with the Goyder Formation material.
Occurrence.
GOY section horizon
132.7 m
(
Fig. 3
).
Distribution.
Goyder Formation, Amadeus Basin,
Northern Territory
. Mungerebar Limestone,
Georgina Basin
,
Northern Territory
and
Queensland
. Possibly the Boshy Formation, Koonenberry Belt,
New South
Wales
. All occurrences are Cambrian Series 3, Guzhangian (Mindyallan) in age.