Notes on Biometrics, Paleoecology and Biostratigraphy of Cibolocrinus conicus Strimple from Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska

• Published in: Journal of paleontology 1979-03, Vol.53 (2), p.421-437
• Main Authors: Pabian, Roger K., Strimple, Harrell L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fauna; Geology; Holotypes; Limestones; Pennsylvanian series; Quarries; Ratios; Shales; Specimens; Waxes
• ISSN: 0022-3360; 1937-2337

A sample of Cibolocrinus conicus Strimple including the holotype and 36 topotypes collected from the Wann Formation, near Ochelata, Oklahoma, is statistically compared to samples of Cibolocrinus conicus from the Hickory Creek Shale Member of the Plattsburg Limestone near Altoona, Kansas (18 specimens) and from the Captain Creek Limestone Member of the Stanton Limestone near Wayside, Kansas (53 specimens). Student's t-tests comparing the means of nine measurements indicate little, if any, statistical difference between the samples from Ochelata, Oklahoma, and Altoona, Kansas, but statistical differences between the samples from Ochelata, Oklahoma, and Wayside, Kansas. A small sample of C. conicus from the basal Stoner Limestone Member of the Stanton Formation in Sarpy and Cass Counties, Nebraska, is the only recorded occurrence of this genus in Nebraska. All of the above stratigraphic units are of Missourian (late Pennsylvanian) age. The samples from Ochelata, Oklahoma, and Wayside, Kansas, show variation in cup outline and cross section. The samples from Wayside, Kansas, also show variations in number of plates in the infrabasal circlet, position of the small infrabasal plate, and sutures between infrabasals. Uniserial arms branching on two PBr2 are described. Rectilinear growth shown for nine pairs of measurements indicates that the distal portions of the cup expanded much faster than the proximal during ontogeny. A species name, Cibolocrinus spinula new name is proposed to replace the name C. spinosus Moore & Strimple (1973) which is preoccupied by C. spinosus Wanner (1937).