Late Cretaceous crinoids (Echinodermata) from the southwestern margin of the Holy Cross Mts. (southern Poland) and phylogenetic relationships among bourgueticrinids

Abstract

A systematic account of crinoids from the Upper Coniacian–Lower Campanian of the southwestern margin of the Holy Cross Mountains in southern Poland is presented. Seven crinoid taxa [Marsupites testudinarius (von Schlotheim), Bourgueticrinus ellipticus (Miller), Bourgueticrinus sp., I.? granosus Valette, Isocrinus? sp., Nielsenicrinus carinatus Roemer and Austinocrinus bicoronatus (von Hagenow)] are described and illustrated. The new material from Poland extends down the stratigraphic range of Austinocrinus bicoronatus to the Lower Campanian. Morphometric data support that Bourgueticrinus ellipicus and B.? suedicus are conspecific. Taphonomy and paleoecology of recorded crinoid assemblages are discussed. Phylogeny of Cretaceous bourgueticrinids is also revisited.