Chrispaulia wrightorum sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DC13434F-62E3-47A9-9F62-327F77141670

Fig. 13F–G

? Benthopecten sp. – Spencer & Wright in Moore 1966: U48.

Diagnosis

Chrispaulia with smooth marginal ossicles, in which the distal superomarginals possess a single large spine pit close to their distal, abactinolateral border.

Etymology

After the late brothers C.W. and E.V. Wright, who collected the specimen.

Material examined

The arm fragment (NHMUK PI EE 17997) from the Albian Red Chalk (Hunstanton Formation) at Speeton, Yorkshire (United Kingdom) is the holotype and single specimen known to date. The specimen was originally articulated; it was subsequently reconstructed on plasticene by the Wright brothers.

Description

Arm elongated, narrow; supero- and inferomarginals opposed, shortening rapidly distally (Fig. 13F–G). Superomarginals bearing single, distally directed, crater-like spine base on distal, abactinolateral margin. Supero- and inferomarginals smooth, grooves for cribriform organs between infero-/superomarginal pairs poorly defined.

Remarks

Chrispaulia wrightorum sp. nov. differs from all congeners in the smooth marginal ossicles, lacking rugosities.