A new phyllocarid crustacean from the Famennian of Belgium
Abstract
A single carapace of an echinocaridid phyllocarid found in the uppermost part of the Evieux Formation at Arbre near Namur of late (latest ?) Famennian age lacks both the posterocentral and posterodorsal ridges, both characters considered to be derived ones. This makes it a member of the E. punctata group. However the lack of any spine or tubercle on the dorsal lobes, along the hinge line, or on the peripheral margin of the carapace, makes the Belgian specimen distinct from all other Famennian echinocaridids. A new genus and species Nervicaris belgica is proposed for this first late Famennian echinocaridid representative from continental Western Europe. This occurrence extends both the vertical range and geographic distribution of echinocaridid phyllocarids.