Etalian and kaihikuan (middle triassic) crinoidea (echinodermata: Articulata) from caroline cutting, oreti valley, southland, new zealand

Abstract

Early Middle Triassic crinoids of New Zealand are confined to the South Island. Eight pelmatozoan crinoids are recorded from Caroline Cutting, Oreti valley, Southland. Two new species, "Laevigatocrinus” balmacaanensis and "Pentacrinites” carolinensis, are described from Late Etalian (Late Anisian) rocks. A further six species are recorded from Kaihikuan (Early Ladinian) strata; Holocrinus trechmanni, H. quinqueradiatus, Tollmannicrinus saklibelensis, Encrinus undatus, Encrinus ternio, and Dadocrinus gracilis. A Maorian (paleo‐New Zealand marine province) element is present at species level, with genera being cosmopolitan ("Pentacrinites”, Holocrinus, Encrinus), Tethyan (Tollmanicrinus, Dadocrinus), and bi‐polar ("Laevigatocrinus"). The Etalian pentacrinitid and isocrinid fauna at Caroline Cutting constitutes 11% of the total crinoid assemblage. Kaihikuan sedimentary rocks preserve a more diverse crinoid fauna dominated largely by holocrinids (48%) and encrinids (38%). Three crinoid marker fossils of possible biostratigraphic use in the Middle Triassic are found at Caroline Cutting: "Laevigatocrinus” balmacaanensis and Dadocrinus gracilis (Late Etalian‐Late Anisian), and Encrinus undatus (Kaihikuan‐Late Ladinian). © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, Ltd.