Cosmopolitan myodocope ostracods from the Silurian of Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Abstract

Four species of myodocope ostracod are documented from the Silurian Ludlow Series of the Aburtkan gorge on the southern slope of Dzhalpak Mountain, Uzbekistan: namely, Parabolbozoe bohemica (Barrande, 1872), Bolbozoe anomala Barrande, 1872, Silurocypridina calva Perrier, Vannier and Siveter, 2011 and Richteria migrans (Barrande, 1872). These species have a palaeogeographically widespread trans-oceanic distribution, which supports the notion that Silurian myodocopes signify the earliest zooplanktonic ostracods. Richteria migrans (Barrande, 1872), in particular, provides a precise intercontinental biostratigraphic marker that identifies rocks of the upper Gorstian to upper Ludfordian stages.

Keywords

• ludlow series
• myodocopa
• ostracoda
• palaeobiogeography
• plankton
• silurian