Crinoids from the Famennian of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland

Abstract

Disarticulated crinoid columnals and pluricolumnals from the Famennian of the Holy Cross area were analysed. Sixteen crinoid taxa were distinguished, only one of which is based on stems attributed to a calyx-based genus, and the others are classified within artificial supraspecific units. Two of these are new: Schyschcatocrinus levis sp. nov. and Cosmocrinus polonicus sp. nov. The described crinoid fauna shows distinct extinction-recovery temporal pattern: the Frasnian-Famennian crisis affected 50% of stem-based families and 70% of late Frasnian stem-based genera. The succession of crinoid faunas represented by three faunal intervals has been identified and correlated to standard conodont zones: FIa, Palmatolepis triangularis Zone (relic "Frasnian" crinoid assemblage Schyschcatocrinus delicatus-Calleocrinus kielcensis), FIb, Pa. crepida to Pa. marginifera zones (crinoid assemblage Calleocrinus kielcensis-Schyschcatocrinus levis) and FIc, Pa. trachytera to S. praesulcata zones (crinoid assemblage Cosmocrinus polonicus-Acbastaucrinus affectatus). The succession was controlled mostly by eustatic factors.