Praenuculidae

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Praenuculidae
Temporal range: Ordovician - Devonian 487–391  Ma
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Nuculida
Superfamily: Nuculoidea
Family: Praenuculidae
McAlester, 1969
Subfamilies

See text

Praenuculidae is an extinct family of prehistoric bivalves in the superfamily Nuculoidea. [1] Praenuculidae species lived from the early Ordovician, Arenig stage through the Early Devonian Emsian stage. [2] Praenuculidae fossils are found worldwide, present on every continent except Antarctica. [2] Species in this family are thought to have been sessile, attached to the substrate in shallow infaunal marine water environments, where they formed shells of an aragonite composition. The family Praenuculidae was named by A. Lee McAlester in 1969. [2]

Contents

Description

Praenuculidae first emerged in the early Ordovician and diversified from around 6 genera in the early Orodvician to a maximum of thirteen genera by the Late Ordovician. [3] As a result of the Ordovician–Silurian extinction event the family was reduced to three genera during the Silurian and by the end of the Devonian the family was entirely extinct. [3]

The family is composed of up to seventeen genera, most divided between the two described subfamilies erected by Teresa M. Sánchez in 1999. [4] The structure of the chevroned hinge teeth is the dominant feature by which members of Praenuculidae are divided between the two subfamilies. The majority of Praenuculidae genera possess teeth with a chevron concavity that faces towards the outer sides of the shell and a chevron point facing the umbo. [4] These genera are grouped into the larger subfamily, Praenuculinae. Three of the genera are placed into the second subfamily, Concavodontinae, based on the teeth having chevron concavities which face in the reverse, towards the center of the hinge and points facing the outside edges of the shell. [4]

In the original 1999 description of the subfamilies, Cardiolaria was not placed into a specific subfamily due to the uncertain family affinities of the genus. Cardiolaria was placed in Praenuculidae by McAlester in 1969 with the original description of the family. It was suggested by John C. Cope in 1997 that the genus may belong elsewhere in the subclass Protobranchia, [1] formerly called Palaeotaxodonta. Both Deceptrix and Cardiolaria are currently accepted as members of the family Cardiolariidae erected by Cope in 1997. [5] [1] The genus Eritropis was formerly included in the family, however it was moved to a new family, Eritropidae by John C. Cope in 2000. [4] [6]

Genera

A number of genera which were placed in the family have been moved to other families. They include:

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<i>Glyptambon</i>

Glyptambon is an extinct genus of Silurian trilobite in the order Phacopida. It is a member of the family Dalmanitidae and the subfamily Dalmanitinae, although it has been classified in the related Ordovician subfamily Mucronaspidinae. The type species G. verrucosus was previously placed in Dalmania and later in Dalmanites. Because this species was considered distinct from other Dalmania and Dalmanites species, the new genus Glyptambon was erected for it in 1981.G. amsdeni and G. gassi were named in 1991 from Tennessee and Illinois, respectively.

Bucaniidae is an extinct family of Paleozoic molluscs of uncertain position possibly being either gastropods or monoplacophorans in the superfamily Bellerophontoidea. The family lived from the Lower Ordovician to the Devonian and have shells in which the apertural margins tend to flare. Most genera have a slit and selenizone, others some modification of this feature.

Parasphaerorthoceras is an extinct orthocerid genus, a nautiloid cephalopod, that lived in what would be Europe and north Africa during the Silurian from 422.9—418.1 mya, having existed for approximately 4.8 million years .

Pojetaia is an extinct genus of early bivalves, one of two genera in the extinct family Fordillidae. The genus is known solely from Early to Middle Cambrian fossils found in North America, Greenland, Europe, North Africa, Asia, and Australia. The genus currently contains two accepted species, Pojetaia runnegari, the type species, and Pojetaia sarhroensis, though up to seven species have been proposed. The genera Buluniella, Jellia, and Oryzoconcha are all considered synonyms of Pojetaia.

Fordillidae Extinct family of bivalves

Fordillidae is an extinct family of early bivalves and one of two families in the extinct superfamily Fordilloidea. The family is known from fossils of early to middle Cambrian age found in North America, Greenland, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The family currently contains two genera, Fordilla and Pojetaia, each with up to three described species. Due to the size and age of the fossil specimens, Fordillidae species are included as part of the Turkish Small shelly fauna.

Fordilloidea Extinct superfamily of bivalves

Fordilloidea is an extinct superfamily of early bivalves containing two described families, Fordillidae and Camyidae and the only superfamily in the order Fordillida. The superfamily is known from fossils of early to middle Cambrian age found in North America, Greenland, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Fordillidae currently contains two genera, Fordilla and Pojetaia each with up to three described species while Camyidae only contains a single genus Camya with one described species, Camya asy. Due to the size and age of the fossil specimens, Fordillidae species are included as part of the Turkish Small shelly fauna.

Tuarangia is a Cambrian shelly fossil interpreted as an early bivalve, though alternative classifications have been proposed and its systematic position remains controversial. It is the only genus in the extinct family Tuarangiidae and order Tuarangiida. The genus is known solely from Middle to Late Cambrian fossils found in Europe and New Zealand. The genus currently contains two accepted species, Tuarangia gravgaerdensis and the type species Tuarangia paparua.

Concavodonta is an extinct genus of early bivalve in the extinct family Praenuculidae. The genus is one of three genera in the subfamily Concavodontinae. Concavodonta is known solely from late Ordovician, Caradoc epoch, fossils found in Europe and South America. The genus currently contains three accepted species, Concavodonta imbricata, Concavodonta ovalis and the type species Concavodonta ponderata.

Hemiconcavodonta is an extinct genus of bivalve in the extinct family Praenuculidae. The genus is one of three genera in the subfamily Concavodontinae. Hemiconcavodonta is known solely from late Ordovician, Caradoc epoch, fossils found in South America. The genus currently contains a single accepted species, Hemiconcavodonta minuta.

Concavodontinae is an extinct subfamily of prehistoric bivalves in the family Praenuculidae. Concavodontinae species lived from the middle Ordovician, Caradoc epoch through the late Ordovician Ashgill epoch. Concavodontinae fossils are found in Europe and South America, and species are thought to have been stationary attached to substrate in shallow infaunal marine water environments where they formed shells of an aragonite composition. The subfamily Concavodontinae was named by Teresa M. Sánchez in 1999.

Emiliodonta is an extinct genus of bivalve in the extinct family Praenuculidae. The genus is one of three genera in the subfamily Concavodontinae. Emiliodonta is known solely from late Ordovician, Caradocian epoch, fossils found in South America. The genus contains a single accepted species, Emiliodonta cuerdai.

Praenuculinae is an extinct subfamily of prehistoric bivalves in the family Praenuculidae. Praenuculinae species lived from the middle Ordovician through the late Devonian. Praenuculinae fossils are found in Europe, Africa, North America and South America, and species are thought to have been stationary attached to substrate in shallow infaunal marine water environments where they formed shells of an aragonite composition. The subfamily Praenuculinae was named by Teresa M. Sánchez in 1999.

Cuyopsis is an extinct genus of bivalve in the extinct family Praenuculidae. The genus is one of eleven genera in the subfamily Praenuculinae. It is one of three Praenuculinae genera known solely from late Ordivician, Caradoc epoch, fossils found in South America. Cuyopsis currently contains a single accepted species, Cuyopsis symmetricus.

Villicumia is an extinct genus of bivalve in the extinct family Praenuculidae. The genus is one of eleven genera in the subfamily Praenuculinae. It is one of three Praenuculinae genera known solely from late Ordovician, Caradoc epoch, fossils found in South America. Villicumia currently contains a single accepted species, Villicumia canteraensis.

Trigonoconcha is an extinct genus of bivalve in the extinct family Praenuculidae. The genus is one of eleven genera in the subfamily Praenuculinae. It is one of three Praenuculinae genera known solely from Late Ordivician, Caradoc epoch, fossils found in South America. Trigonoconcha currently contains a single accepted species, Trigonoconcha acuta.

Similodonta is an extinct genus of early bivalve in the extinct family Praenuculidae. The genus is one of eleven genera in the subfamily Praenuculinae. Similodonta is known from Middle Ordovician through Middle Silurian fossils found in Europe and North America. The genus currently contains eight accepted species, Similodonta ceryx, Similodonta collina, Similodonta djupvikensis, Similodonta magna, Similodonta recurva, Similodonta spjeldnaesi, Similodonta wahli and the type species Similodonta similis.

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Askerina is an extinct genus of atrypid brachiopods from subfamily Atrypinae that lived in end-Ordovician (Hirnantian) and Silurian (Aeronian). The type and only known species is Askerina cymbula. Its fossils are known only from the lower parts of the Solvik Formation in central Oslo region, Norway.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Carter, J.G.; et al. (2011). "A Synoptical Classification of the Bivalvia (Mollusca)" (PDF). Paleontological Contributions. 4: 1–47.
  2. 1 2 3 The Paleobiology Database Praenuculidae entry accessed 11 January 2012
  3. 1 2 Nevesskaya, L.A. (2008). "Dynamics of Taxonomic Diversity of Bivalves in the Phanerozoic". Paleontological Journal. 42 (4): 335–342. doi:10.1134/S0031030108040011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Sánchez, T.M. (1999). "New Late Ordovician (Early Caradoc) Bivalves from the Sierra de Villicum (Argentine Precordillera)". Journal of Paleontology. 73 (1): 66–76. JSTOR   1306745.
  5. The Paleobiology Database Cardiolariidae entry accessed 5 February 2012
  6. Zong-Jie, F.; Cope, J.C.W. (2004). "Early Ordovician bivalves from Dali, West Yunnan, China". Palaeontology. 47 (5): 1121–1158. doi:10.1111/j.0031-0239.2004.00403.x.