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Silurian Proporidae and Plasmoporidae (Anthozoa, Tabulata) from the Chaleurs Bay region, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2015

Graham A. Young
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, U.K.
James P. A. Noble
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, E3B 5A3, Canada

Abstract

Six species belonging to the families Proporidae and Plasmoporidae occur in the Lower and Upper Silurian rocks of the Limestone Point and La Vieille Formations of northern New Brunswick and of the Anse à Pierre-Loiselle, La Vieille, and Gascons Formations of the Gaspé Peninsula of Québec. The three species of Propora are widely distributed but show varying faunal affinities, while both species of Plasmopora, Plasmopora logani and Plasmopora corrugata, are new and are almost endemic. Revised concepts of Propora and Plasmopora are proposed. The holotype specimen for the type species of Camptolithus was examined and confirms the genus as distinct from Propora, rather than a synonym as has been previously suggested.

The facies distribution of these corals is variable. In general, the proporids, which mostly occur in facies indicating shallow carbonate banks and patch reefs, are more restricted in distribution than the plasmoporids, which occur in these facies and also in others representing a variety of open-shelf environments.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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