A Glyptagnostus stolidotus trilobite fauna from the Cambrian of northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

Abstract

A taxonomically diverse trilobite assemblage from the Spurs Formation of northern Victoria Land with the globally distributed zone fossil Glyptagnostus stolidotus, is of Mindyallan age (early Late Cambrian). Sixteen taxa are recorded from Antarctica for the first time, including the new species Hadragnostus helixensis, Liostracina simesi, Leichneyella variosa, Meteoraspis nevensis and Catillicephala glasgowensis plus two new genera and species, Noregaspis frigidus and Carrosella alberti. Altogether, 11 agnostoid and 30 polymerid taxa are described. The assemblage shows strong taxonomic affinity with Mindyallan faunas of Queensland, Australia. The Mindyallan age of the uppermost beds of the Spurs Formation at Helix Pass is established.

Keywords:

• trilobites
• northern Victoria Land
• Antarctica
• Late Cambrian
• Spurs Formation
• Bowers Supergroup