Mollusks and Stenothecoides from Cambrian Stage 4 (Ovatoryctocara granulata assemblage) in North Greenland (Laurentia)

Abstract

The Ovatoryctocara granulata Chernysheva, 1962 assemblage is a diverse fossil fauna that is important for global biostratigraphic correlation within Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4. The assemblage includes more than 60 invertebrate species in North Greenland from Freuchen Land to western Peary Land, but systematic documentation of all the fossils from the assemblage remains to be done. Here we expand on previous work by describing new mollusks and the problematic Stenothecoides from this assemblage in North Greenland, mainly from Freuchen Land. The identified taxa include Stenothecoides sp., Capitoconus borealis, Dorispira tippik Peel and Kouchinsky, 2022, Dorispira sp., Ressericonella pipalukae Oh and Peel, 2024, Ressericonella? sp., Mellopegma georginense Runnegar and Jell, 1976, Mellopegma simesi (MacKinnon, 1985), Yochelcionella gracilis Atkins and Peel, 2004, Eotebenna arctica Peel, 1989, Pelagiella sp., and three helcionelloid species in open nomenclature. These mollusks and stenothecoids facilitate faunal comparisons of North Greenland with Stage 4 to Miaolingian strata from other paleocontinents such as Siberia, Gondwana (Australia), and peri-Gondwana (North China), as well as within Laurentia.