NOTES ON THE CONCEPT AND FAMILIAL CLASSIFICATION OF PRODAMESELLA CHANG,1959 (TRILOBITA, CAMBRIAN)
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Abstract:
Yuan and Yin (2000) classified Prodamesella into 3 subgenera, and transferred the genus from family Damesellidae to family Missisquoiidae. Study on the material of ontogenetic series of Prodamesella punctata Ergaliev from western Hunan, with discovery of its reliable pygidia, reveals that the classification and the familial assignment made by them may be problematic. The new material shows that the cranidia, on which Yuan and Yin based for their new taxa are mainly of juvenile, and the pygidia appear to belong to other genera rather than Prodamesella. The subgenera Prodamesella (Metaprodamesella) Yuan et Yin and Prodamesella (Neoprodamesella) Yuan et Yin are considered to be invalid, and species (subspecies) P. subtriangulata Peng; P. (Prodamesella) cylindrica Yuan et Yin; P. (Metaprodamesella) subtriangulata prisca Yuan et Yin, P. (Metaprodamesella) granulosa Yuan et Yin;Prodamesella (Neoprodamesella) spinosa Yuan et Yin are junior synonyms of P. punctata. All the generic characters of Prodamesella suggest that the genus can be assigned neither to the family Damesellidae nor to Missisquoiidae. Because there appears no existing family, in which the genus could be satisfactorily placed, we prefer to remain it uncertain in familial rank.galiev from western Hunan, with discovery of its reliable pygidia, reveals that the classification and the familial assignment made by them may be problematic. The new material shows that the cranidia, on which Yuan and Yin based for their new taxa are mainly of juvenile, and the pygidia appear to belong to other genera rather than Prodamesella. The subgenera Prodamesella (Metaprodamesella) Yuan et Yin and Prodamesella (Neoprodamesella) Yuan et Yin are considered to be invalid, and species (subspecies) P. subtriangulata Peng; P. (Prodamesella) cylindrica Yuan et Yin; P. (Metaprodamesella) subtriangulata prisca Yuan et Yin, P. (Metaprodamesella) granulosa Yuan et Yin; Prodamesella (Neoprodamesella) spinosa Yuan et Yin are junior synonyms of P. punctata. All the generic characters of Prodamesella suggest that the genus can be assigned neither to the family Damesellidae nor to Missisquoiidae. Because there appears no existing family, in which the genus could be satisfactorily placed, we prefer to remain it uncertain in familial rank.
