The Waukesha Biota: a wonderful window into early Silurian life (original) (raw)

Geology Today, 2023

Abstract

The Waukesha Biota (Brandon Bridge Formation Lagerstätte) is a diverse assemblage of early Silurian (437 Ma) shallow marine fossils from Wisconsin, USA. Their exceptional preservation, in finely laminated dolomitic mudstones, was mediated by tidally-influenced conditions and/or microbial entombment. Shelly biomineralized animals are rare, but soft-bodied organisms are common. Arthropods dominate, including trilobites, phyllocarids, ostracodes, a thylacocephalan, a synziphosurine and various enigmatic groups. The fauna also includes evolutionary ‘holdovers’, such as palaeoscolecids and a lobopodian.

Kenneth Gass hasn't uploaded this document.

Let Kenneth know you want this document to be uploaded.

Ask for this document to be uploaded.