UPPER ORDOVICIAN BRACHIOPODS FROM KAZAKHSTAN 



77 



cruralium 



median sepum 



Fig. 21 Transverse serial sections of Nikolaispira guttula sp. nov., 1-3, BC 57588; 4-5, BC 57589, Sample 948, Tesik River. Distance in mm is measured 

 from the posterior tip of ventral beak. Dorsal valve uppermost. 



DISCUSSION. This species was described and discussed in detail by 

 Popov etal. (1999). 



Genus NIKOLAISPIRA Nikitin & Popov in Nikitin, Popov & 

 Holmer, 1996 



TYPE SPECIES. Nikolaispira rasilis Nikitin & Popov in Nikitin et 

 al., 1996, from the Dulankara Regional Stage (Upper Caradoc), 

 north Betpak-Dala, Kazakhstan. 



Nikolaispira guttula sp. nov. PI. 14, figs 47-57; Fig. 21 



ETYMOLOGY. After guttula, Latin - small drop. 



HOLOTYPE. BC 57585, PI. 14, figs 50-53, conjoined valves, from 

 the Anderken Formation, Sample 2538, Kujandysai section. 



Material. 38 conjoined valves from Samples 100 (=K-98/1970), 

 626, 8221 (BC 56770, 37857-58), Anderkenyn-Akchoku section; 

 Samples 628, 2538 (BC 57584, 85), 8257, Kujandysai Section; 

 Sample 948 (BC 57588, 89), Tesik River. 



Description. Shell smooth, ventribiconvex, slightly elongate, 

 subpentagonal in outline, about 64% as thick as long and 117% as 

 long as wide. Anterior commissure parasulcate. Ventral valve profile 

 strongly and evenly convex with maximum thickness near the mid- 

 valve. Delthyrium small, open, narrow triangular. Beak slightly 

 acuminate, erect posteriorly. Shallow ventral sulcus originating 

 slightly posterior of the mid-valve, flanked by two low, rounded 

 plications and terminating in a narrow, semicircular tongue. Dorsal 

 valve gently convex with maximum thickness slightly posterior to 

 mid-length. Median fold low and narrow, originating near mid- 

 valve. Ventral interior with delicate teeth and short, thin dental plates 

 placed closely to the lateral sides of the valve. Dorsal interior with 

 small cruralium on a thin, long median septum extending anteriorly 

 to mid- valve (Fig. 21). Spiralia laterally directed comprising up to 

 three whorls. Jugal processes short, situated near the bese of spiralia. 



DISCUSSION. This species differs from Nikolaispira rasilis Nikitin 

 & Popov {in Nikitin, Popov & Holmer 1996), which occurs in the 

 Dulankara Stage ( Upper Caradoc to Lower Ashgill ) of north Betpak- 

 Dala, Kazakhstan, in having a more elongate outline, like the most 

 elongate specimens of the latter species, and smaller number of 

 whorls of the spiralia. 



Acknowledgments. We thank Rong Jia-yu (Nanjing) for discussion on 

 Chinese material and M.G. Bassett for helpful comments on the manuscript. 

 LEP acknowledges support from the Royal Society of London and the 

 National Museum of Wales. LRMC acknowledges travel funds from The 

 Natural History Museum. 



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