The youngest representatives of the genus Ribeiria Sharpe, 1853 from the late Katian of the Prague Basin (Bohemia)

Abstract

Ribeiria apusoides and Ribeiria johni sp. nov. are described from the late Katian of the Prague Basin (Bohemia) as the youngest representatives of the genus Ribeiria. The Ordovician ribeirioids from Bohemia (Perunica) show close affinities to the ribeirioids from Armorica and Iberia. The functional morphology of ribeirioids, mainly the pedal muscle system, is discussed, based on very well-preserved specimens of R. apusoides. The ribeirioids attained their diversity in the Lower Ordovician, since the Middle Ordovician their diversity declines, and during the late Katian only three genera are known worldwide. They are unknown from the Hirnantian but the last ribeirioids are recorded from the lower Silurian in South China.

Keywords

• Ribeirioida
• systematics
• functional morphology
• Ordovician
• Prague Basin.