Ophiuroids from the Upper Jurassic of Kuyavia and the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, Poland

Abstract

Ophiuroids from the Upper Jurassic marine deposits (upper Oxfordian–lower Kimmeridgian) of southern and north-western Poland have been studied in two sections: Zalas quarry in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland in southern Poland and Wapienno/Bielawy quarries in the Kuyavia region of north-western Poland. Described herein are nine taxa belonging to five genera (one new to science): Alternacantha Thuy and Meyer, 2013; Dermocoma Hess, 1964; Ophiobartia Loba gen. nov.; Ophioderma Müller and Troschel, 1840; Ophiotreta Verrill, 1899, and three families: Ophiacanthidae and Ophiodermatidae (both of Ljungman, 1867), and Ophiotomidae Paterson, 1985. Only a few representatives of some of these taxa have previously been reported from the Jurassic of Poland. One species, Ophiobartia radwanskii Loba, is established as new. The ophiuroid material recognized from both Polish localities is close to those described from Western Europe at family or even genus level. Both studied ophiuroid assemblages from Zalas and Wapienno/Bielawy show similarities, being dominated by the cosmopolitan species Ophioderma spectabile Hess, 1966, and by different species of Dermocoma. The recognized ophiuroid assemblages represent a rather shallow-water environment.