Late Cambrian trilobites from the Dolodrook River limestones, eastern Victoria, Australia

Abstract

An early Late Cambrian (late Mindyallan-Idamean) trilobite fauna is described from limestone bodies in the Dolodrook River area, eastern Victoria. Seven taxa are referred to previously described species: 'Innitagnostus inexpectans' (Kobayashi, 1938), 'Pseudagnostus idalis' Öpik, 1967, 'Corynexochus plumula' Whitehouse, 1939, 'Rhyssometopus thielei' (Chapman, 1911), 'Eugonocare tessellatum' Whitehouse, 1939, 'Protemnites magnificans' Shergold & Webers, 1992 arid 'Meteoraspis etheridgei' (Chapman, 1911), seven taxa are left under open nomenclature: 'Idolagnostus ?agrestis' Öpik, 1967, Peratagnostus aff.'invalidus' (Lu & Lin, 1989), 'Amrnagnostus' sp., 'Tomagnostella' sp., 'Pterocephaliid?' gen. et sp. indet., Tsinaniid gen. et sp. indet. 1 and Tsinaniid gen. et sp. indet. 2, and one represents a new species: 'Mindycrusta oepiki' sp. nov. 'Protemnites' Whitehouse, 1939 is considered to be a senior subjective synonym of 'Prismenaspis' Henderson, I976a. Two trilobite assemblages are recognised: the 'Protemnites' Assemblage aid the 'Mindycrusta' Assemblage. The Protemnites Assemblage is interpreted as representing an autochthonous assemblage inhabiting a moderate to high energy, inner shelf (peritidal) environment. The Mindycrusta Assemblage represents a parautochthonous assemblage inhabi ing a low to moderate energy, open ocean-facing, outer shelf to upper slope environment.