The morphologic and paleobiogeographic implications of a new early Silurian echinoid from Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada

Abstract

The Ordovician and Silurian are an exceptionally important interval of time for understanding the effects of ancient climate change on the paleobiodiversity of echinoderms. Despite this importance, the fossil record of many echinoderm groups during this interval is sparse. The echinoids, or sea urchins, are no exception; and new fossil finds are necessary to better understand their initial diversification during the lower Paleozoic. We herein report on material from a new genus and species of echinoid, Anticostiechinus petryki gen. et sp. nov., from the Silurian of Anticosti Island, Canada. The morphology of the tubercles and spines of A. petryki are atypical for echinoids, and the surfaces for spine articulation consist of rounded, concave indentations. Additionally, the bases of the spines are subspherical. Furthermore, A. petryki belongs to the family Echinocystitidae, which increases the known diversity and distribution of this family during the Silurian and provides insight into the biogeography of echinocystitids from the Silurian to Devonian.