Cladid crinoids from the Late Kinderhookian Meadville Shale, Cuyahoga Formation of Ohio

Abstract

A total of 17 species of cladid crinoids are documented from the late Kinderhookian Meadville Shale Member of the Cuyahoga Formation of northeastern Ohio, the most diverse assemblage of Kinderhookian-age cladids known in North America. One new genus, six new species, and seven new combinations are reported. New taxa include Cuyahogacrinus lodiensis new genus and species, and the new species Cyathocrinites simplex, Atelestocrinus meszarosi, Goniocrinus sceletus, Aphelecrinus gracilis, and Lebetocrinus ohioensis. New combinations include Logocrinus warreni (Laudon et al., 1952), Histocrinus aegina (Hall, 1863), Paracosmetocrinus richfieldensis (Worthen, 1882), P. corycia (Hall, 1863), Acylocrinus lyriope (Hall, 1863), Linocrinus merope (Hall, 1863), and L. paternus (Hall, 1863). Remaining taxa include Cyathocrinites lamellosus (White, 1863) and Ascetocrinus whitei (Hall, 1861), both of which also occur in the Osagean Burlington Limestone, and the endemic species Cosmetocrinus crineus (Hall, 1863) and Pachylocrinus subtortuosus (Hall, 1863).Collectively, the cosmopolitan genera and species of cladids show a greater overall affinity with Osagean cladid faunas than with other Kinderhookian cladid faunas. However, this is true for other Kinderhookian cladid faunas as well that individually have more taxa in common with Osagean faunas than other Kinderhookian faunas. This suggests a greater degree of endemism and local speciation during the Kinderhookian as a prelude to the rapid radiation of cladids, and other crinoids, during the Osagean.