Late Middle Cambrian trilobites from St Valentines Peak and Native Track Tier, northwestern Tasmania

Abstract

Late Middle Cambrian trilobites are described from two localities in northwestern Tasmania. Twenty-four trilobite taxa are documented. The 15 agnostoid species include Paraclavagnostus longus sp. nov. which is placed in the Utagnostinae, a new subfamily of the Clavagnostidae. The nine polymeroid species include a new member of the Rhyssometopidae, Tasmana truncata gen. et sp. nov. Three other new species of polymeroids are erected: Fuchouia tasmaniensis, Nepea delicata and Nepea hellyeri. Both faunas correlate with the Lejopyge laevigata Zone on the northern Australia biostratigraphic scale, possibly with the L. laevigata II Zone. When compared with Hunan, China, correlation is with the upper part of the Lejopyge laevigata Zone, and particularly with the lower part of the Proagnostus bulbus Zone.

Key words:

• Late Middle Cambrian
• Tasmania
• correlation
• trilobites
• new taxa