Systematic revision of the trilobite genera Laudonia and Lochmanolenellus (Olenelloidea) from the lower Dyeran (Cambrian Series 2) of western Laurentia
Author
Webster, Mark
Author
Bohach, Lisa L.
text
Zootaxa
2014
3824
1
1
66
journal article
36828
10.11646/zootaxa.3824.1.1
df227efc-13d9-421e-92ed-f9aa417b0cf7
1175-5326
286404
023D78D0-4182-48D2-BAEB-CDA6473CF585
Lochmanolenellus
cf.
subquadratus
1
Fig. 19.1
1966
Laudonia
sp.; Nelson & Durham, pl. 2, fig. 9.
1976
Laudonia
sp.; Nelson (part), pl. 5, top right and lower left “
Laudonia
” specimens only [not top left “
Laudonia
” specimen, =
Lochmanolenellus trapezoidalis
].
Material.
Two of the three specimens illustrated as “
Laudonia
” by
Nelson (1976
, top right and lower left specimens only; one of which was also illustrated by
Nelson & Durham, 1966
, pl. 2, fig. 9) are herein reassigned to
Lochmanolenellus
cf.
subquadratus
1. Quantitative morphometric and qualitative descriptive data were recorded from first-hand examination of one of those specimens (LACMIP 7401); the whereabouts of the second specimen is unknown (M. Stecheson, personal communication to M. Webster,
March 2012
), and it therefore was not examined during the course of the present study.
Occurrence.
U.S.A.
:
Magruder Mountain, Esmeralda County, Nevada:
Upper portion of the middle member of the Poleta Formation at LACMIP locality 26828, SW ¼, SW ¼, SW ¼ of Section 22, T6S, R40E. The second specimen, illustrated by
Nelson (1976, pl. 5, lower left specimen)
, was collected from the middle member of the Poleta Formation in either Esmeralda County, Nevada, or Inyo County, eastern California, but more precise details of geographic and stratigraphic provenance for this specimen are unknown. Both occurrences are assumed to be in the lower portion of the Dyeran Stage, Waucoban Series based on the range chart provided by
Nelson (1976, fig. 5)
.
Discussion.
The two specimens show the subquadrate cephalic outline, strongly anteriorly advanced genal spine bases, and ocular lobe length (posterior tip located transversely opposite the lateral margin of L1) typical of
Lochmanolenellus subquadratus
. Both exhibit genal and intergenal spines that are slightly less strongly laterally flared relative to the typical condition for this species, but this probably results from the slight tectonic deformation experienced by both specimens. The broader anterior cephalic border of one of the specimens (Fig. 19.1) relative to
Lo. subquadratus
is probably attributable to a combination of tectonic deformation plus taphonomic compaction (this specimen is preserved in shale, all other specimens of
Lo. subquadratus
are preserved in limestone). Given the preservational differences, assignment of these two specimens to
Lo. subquadratus
must remain tentative, and they are conservatively treated herein as
Lo.
cf.
subquadratus
1.
The sagittal axis of LACMIP 7401 was oriented parallel to the major axis of the tectonic strain ellipse (as revealed by weak lineations within the shale matrix). This orientation relative to tectonic strain accounts for the unusually large length:width ratios evident on this specimen. The sagittal cephalic length of the specimen (
14.1 mm
) might have been slightly exaggerated by the deformation.