Devonian craniide brachiopods from the Prague Basin, Czech Republic

 

Authors: Mergl M, Sazimová K

Published in: Bulletin of Geosciences, volume 101, issue 2; pages: 289 - 306; Received 1 January 2026; Accepted in revised form 1 May 2026; Online 28 June 2026

Keywords: Craniide brachiopods, Devonian, Prague Basin, Czech Republic,

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Abstract

Craniide brachiopods are generally rare in the Lower and early Middle Devonian sediments of the Prague Basin of the Czech Republic. Only three craniid species were described by J. Barrande in the 19th century. Subsequently, several species were recognized and figured, but remained formally undescribed by Havlíček & Vaněk (1998). A current revision of the material stored in three palaeontological collections confirms the validity of the species Discina plicosa, and D. transversa described by Barrande (1879); their lectotypes were selected. The new genus Urbicrania is erected, with two new species, U. limbata, and U. egressa. Six other species, referred to the genera Deliella, Petrocrania, and Propatella are left in open nomenclature. The craniides from the Prague Basin point to moderate phenotypic plasticity, with shell shape affected by a host morphology. A clear influence of microrelief of the host substrate was observed in one species.

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