Early late Cambrian trilobites of Australo-Sinian aspect from the montagne Noire, Southern France

Abstract

Ten species of Late Cambrian trilobites occur in a limestone lens at the base of the Val d'Homs Formation in the Cesse Brook section at Ferrals-les-Montagnes in the Montagne Noire. Associated in this lens are species referred to Ammagnostus (Ammagnostus), Kormagnostus?, Olentella, Stigmatoa, Shengia, Abharella, Proceratopyge (Proceratopyge), Prochuangia, Palaeadotes and Paraacidaspis. Of these, Stigmatoa courtessolei and Paraacidaspis ultima are described as new species. The Ferrals fauna has a decidedly Australo-Sinian palaeobiogeographical relationship, with the implication that previously developed models suggesting a high latitudinal position for southern France during the Late Cambrian should perhaps be revised.