Journal of

GEOsciences

  (Formerly Journal of the Czech Geological Society)

Original Paper

García-Alcalde, Blodgett

New lower devonian (upper Emsian) Myriospirifer (Brachiopoda, Eospiriferinae) species from Alaska and Northern Spain and the paleogeographic distribution of the genus Myriospirifer

Journal of the Czech Geological Society, volume 46 (2001), issue 3-4, 145 - 154

The paleogeographic range of the Silurian-Devonian eospiriferine brachiopod genus Myriospirifer is analysed. The genus appears in South Baltica during Early Silurian time and spread subsequently along both margins of the Rheic Ocean. During the Devonian it was widespread within Gondwana and Baltica reaching as far as Siberia. During the Early Devonian, this genus was found throughout much of the Old World Realm, but is notably missing from cratonic faunas of western and Arctic North America (Cordilleran Region of the Old World Realm), as well as the Eastern Americas and Malvinokaffric realms. Two new Emsian species, M. breasei, from south-central Alaska, and M. crassus, from northern Spain are described and figured. One of the Emsian species, M. breasei sp. nov was transported in an accreted terrane rifted from Siberia, and subsequently joined to North America during late Mesozoic time.