Investigation of echinoderms from the new locality of so-called "white beds" in the Koněprusy Limestone exposed in the Velkolom Čertovy schody-West quarry (Lower Devonian, Pragian)

Geoscience Research Reports 45, 2012 (GRR for 2011), pages 144–145

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Abstract

Systematic research of the Lower Devonian reef complex near Koněprusy conducted last year has continued with the investigation of echinoderms from weathered parts of the Koněprusy Limestone, which was recently exposed in the west face of the Velkolom Čertovy schody-West quarry. Washings from this newly discovered locality yielded many echinodermal skeletal remains, mostly columnals and stem fragments of crinoids. Until present there were determined 27 genera assigned to 34 species of crinoids. Representatives of the genera Salairocrinus, Poteriocrinites and Asperocrinus are most common. Except crinoids, only very few remains of other groups of echinoderms have been discovered in washings: central plate of Stenaster (Asteroidea) and one thecal platelet and one jaw demipyramide of Lepidocentrus (Echinoidea). The studied locality represents the detrital talus of the inner part of the reef's peripheral zone marked with dense crinoid growth. Massive skeletal remains of crinoids that lived in the reef mass, e.g. Pernerocrinus, Torrocrinus and Vadarocrinus are missing; skeletal parts of Trybiiocrinus are very rare. Compared with crinoidal fauna from other localities in the Koneprusy Limestone, this palaeocommunity is less diverse in all taxonomic levels.