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The stalked filter feeder Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. from the middle Cambrian (Series 3, Stage 5) Spence Shale of Utah: its biological affinities and taphonomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2017

Julien Kimmig,
Luke C. Strotz and
Bruce S. Lieberman
Julien Kimmig
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA 〈jkimmig@ku.edu〉
Luke C. Strotz
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA 〈jkimmig@ku.edu〉Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA, 〈lukestrotz@ku.edu〉; 〈blieber@ku.edu〉
Bruce S. Lieberman
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA 〈jkimmig@ku.edu〉Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA, 〈lukestrotz@ku.edu〉; 〈blieber@ku.edu〉
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Abstract

We describe a new species of enigmatic stalked filter feeder, Siphusauctum lloydguntheri, from the middle Cambrian (Series 3, Stage 5) Antimony Canyon locality of the Spence Shale of northern Utah. The described specimen is the only one known from the Spence Shale, represents the first occurrence of Siphusauctum outside the Burgess Shale, and is only the second described species from the genus. Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. differs from S. gregarium O’Brien and Caron, 2012 in the shape of its calyx and the position of the digestive tract. The new species provides some additional information about the possible affinities of enigmatic stalked Cambrian filter feeders, as well as the taphonomic pathways that lead to preservation of Siphusauctum.

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Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 91 , Issue 5 , September 2017, pp. 902 - 910
Copyright
Copyright © 2017, The Paleontological Society 

Introduction

Cambrian Burgess Shale-type (BST) deposits of Laurentia have proven critical for understanding the origin and evolution of the first animal communities (e.g., Briggs and Fortey, Reference Briggs and Fortey2005; Dornbos et al., Reference Dornbos, Bottjer and Chen2005; Caron and Jackson, Reference Caron and Jackson2008; Gaines et al., Reference Gaines, Briggs and Zhao2008; Daley et al., Reference Daley, Budd, Caron, Edgecombe and Collins2009; Edgecombe and Legg, Reference Edgecombe and Legg2013; Kimmig and Pratt, Reference Kimmig and Pratt2015; O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2015). The middle Cambrian (Series 3, Stage 5) Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation is one such deposit, containing a diverse array of soft-bodied taxa, trilobites, and other shelly organisms (e.g., Briggs et al., Reference Briggs, Lieberman, Hendricks, Halgedahl and Jarrard2008; Gaines et al., Reference Gaines, Briggs and Zhao2008, Reference Gaines, Hammarlund, Hou, Qi, Gabbot, Zhao, Peng and Canfield2012; Brett et al., Reference Brett, Allison, DeSantis, Liddell and Kramer2009; Halgedahl et al., Reference Halgedahl, Jarrard, Brett and Allison2009). Discoveries from this unit have provided useful insights into the phylogeny, ecology, and biogeography of Cambrian life (e.g., Hendricks and Lieberman, Reference Hendricks and Lieberman2008; Hendricks et al., Reference Hendricks, Lieberman and Stigall2008; Robison and Babcock, Reference Robison and Babcock2011; Stein et al., Reference Stein, Church and Robison2011; Daley et al., Reference Daley, Paterson, Edgecombe, García-Bellido and Jago2013; Conway Morris et al., Reference Conway Morris, Selden, Gunther, Jamison and Robison2015; LoDuca et al., Reference LoDuca, Caron, Schiffbauer, Xiao and Kramer2015). Some of the most obscure taxa found in BST deposits are stalked filter feeders. Several species of these have been described from the Burgess Shale (e.g., Dinomischus isolatus Conway Morris, Reference Conway Morris1977; Lyracystis radiata Sprinkle, Reference Sprinkle1973; Priscansermarinus barnetti Collins and Rudkin, Reference Collins and Rudkin1981; and Siphusauctum gregarium O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012). Others have been described from the Chengjiang biota (e.g., Dinomischus venustus Chen, Hou, and Hao-Zhi, Reference Chen, Hou and Hao-Zhi1989; Phlogites longus Luo and Hu in Luo et al., Reference Luo, Hu, Chen, Zhang and Tao1999; and Cotyledion tylodes Luo and Hu in Luo et al., Reference Luo, Hu, Chen, Zhang and Tao1999), and Kaili biotas (e.g., Dinomischus sp. Peng et al., Reference Peng, Zhao and Lin2006). These taxa clearly represent a polyphyletic assemblage. Some have been identified as arthropods (e.g., P. barnetti, Collins and Rudkin, Reference Collins and Rudkin1981), whereas others are interpreted to be echinoderms (e.g., L. radiata, Sprinkle, Reference Sprinkle1973). Phlogites longus is treated as a primitive deuterostome (Caron et al., Reference Caron, Conway Morris and Shu2010) and Dinomischus and Cotyledion may be entoprocts (Conway Morris, Reference Conway Morris1977 and Zhang et al., Reference Zhang, Holmer, Skovsted, Brock, Budd, Fu, Zhang, Shu, Han, Liu, Wang, Butler and Li2013, respectively). The affinities of Siphusauctum are, at present, indeterminate (O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012).

We describe a new species of stalked filter feeder, Siphusauctum lloydguntheri, from the Spence Shale that extends the geographic range of this genus to southern Laurentia. The anatomy of the stem of the Spence Shale species is closely comparable to that of the slightly younger S. gregarium, which is known from the Tulip Beds of the Cliff Shale Member of the Burgess Shale Formation (Fletcher and Collins, Reference Fletcher and Collins2003; O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012). However, the crown calyx of S. lloydguntheri differs in shape, the positioning of some of the interior organs, and the arrangement of the filter feeding apparatus, relative to S. gregarium. Our examination of this new species of Siphusauctum provides some insight into the affinities of this enigmatic taxon.

Geological setting

The Spence Shale Member is part of the Langston Formation, which is a regionally extensive, relatively deep-water middle Cambrian (Series 3, Stage 5) unit in northern Utah and southern Idaho (Fig. 1; Liddell et al., Reference Liddell, Wright and Brett1997) that ranges in age from the Albertella to Glossopleura biozones (Liddell et al., Reference Liddell, Wright and Brett1997; Robison and Babcock, Reference Robison and Babcock2011). The Burgess Shale, by contrast, is slightly younger (Bathyuriscus–Elrathina biozones), but shares several taxa in common with the Spence Shale Member (Glossopleura Biozone; Briggs et al., Reference Briggs, Lieberman, Hendricks, Halgedahl and Jarrard2008; Hendricks et al., Reference Hendricks, Lieberman and Stigall2008; Conway Morris et al., Reference Conway Morris, Selden, Gunther, Jamison and Robison2015; LoDuca et al., Reference LoDuca, Caron, Schiffbauer, Xiao and Kramer2015). It was deposited on the passive western margin of Laurentia. The Spence Shale Member is one of four middle Cambrian Burgess Shale-type deposits that occur in Utah (Robison and Babcock, Reference Robison and Babcock2011). Paleogeographically, it was part of the fine-grained middle carbonate or outer detrital belt of the eastern Great Basin that was probably seaward of a carbonate platform that subsequently planed off (Robison, Reference Robison1991; Liddell et al., Reference Liddell, Wright and Brett1997). The presence of certain types of trace fossils indicates dynamic redox conditions during deposition (Garson et al., Reference Garson, Gaines, Droser, Liddell and Sappenfield2012).

Figure 1

(1) Location of the Spence Shale locality (asterisk; 41.561 N, 112.006 W), Antimony Canyon, Box Elder Co., Utah; (2) Generalized stratigraphic correlation of the major middle Cambrian Burgess Shale-type deposits in Utah.

The specimen we describe was found on a silty shale float slab ~5 m below the top of the Spence Shale Member on the south side of Antimony Canyon, which is situated on the west flank of the Wellsville Mountains north of Brigham City, UT (41.561 N, 112.006 W). The Spence Shale in this area is ~64 m thick and consists of a succession of shales, silty shales, lime mudstones, wackestones, and packstones that lies above the Naomi Peak Limestone Member and beneath the High Creek Limestone Member (Liddell et al., Reference Liddell, Wright and Brett1997). By contrast, to the north, the Spence Shale is overlain by thin-bedded silty and sandy limestones of the Ute Formation (Chappelle, Reference Chappelle1975; Liddell et al., Reference Liddell, Wright and Brett1997).

Materials and methods

The specimen was photographed using a Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera equipped with Canon 50 mm macro lens. Pictures were taken with specimens submerged in alcohol. The contrast, color, and brightness of images were adjusted using Adobe Photoshop. Line drawings were created in Adobe Illustrator.

Repositories and institutional abbreviations

The part and counterpart of the specimen were collected and donated by Lloyd Gunther in 1976 and are housed in the collections of the Division of Invertebrate Paleontology, Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas (KUMIP). Specimens with the prefix ROM are housed in the Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario, Canada.

Systematic paleontology

Morphological terminology follows O’Brien and Caron (Reference O’Brien and Caron2012).

Unranked stem-group bilaterian

Remarks

O’Brien and Caron (Reference O’Brien and Caron2012) identified Siphusauctum gregrium as an unranked stem-group bilaterian. The new species described herein unfortunately does not offer any further insight into the higher-level taxonomy of the genus, and thus we leave this open to further study.

Phylum, Class, Order Uncertain

Family Siphusauctidae O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012

Remarks

O’Brien and Caron (Reference O’Brien and Caron2012) discussed the possibility that Dinomischus could be closely related to Siphusauctum, but concluded that finding homologous characters between the two genera was difficult, given the limited availability of Dinomischus specimens. We follow this conclusion and do not include Siphusauctum in the family Dinomischidae (see Conway Morris, Reference Conway Morris1977 for more discussion of this taxon).

Genus Siphusauctum O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012

Type species

Siphusauctum gregarium O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012.

Diagnosis

Soft-bodied, gregarious, stalked, upright metazoan, divided into three distinct parts from top to bottom: a prominent, chalice-shaped calyx; this is attached to a narrow stem; the stem terminates in a small, bulbous or flat holdfast rarely wider than the stem. Maximum dimensions 223 mm high and 48 mm wide (at calyx). Calyx box-shaped to oblate, approximately circular in cross-section with a rigid conical lower quarter attached to stem. Maximal width at mid-height of narrow ridge, width tapering or constant towards top. Calyx covered with thin external sheath representing margins of possible filtration chamber. External sheath smooth and unbroken, with exception of small openings at base of calyx; an opening for anus at top, with indistinct openings around anus, and possible openings on protrusions half way up calyx. Internal structures include central and prominent sac-like gut enclosed by tube representing margins of body cavity. Gut is differentiated into three main zones: ovoid lower tract near base of calyx; this grades into bulbous mid-gut; then tapers into straight and thin upper intestine projecting upwards to central terminal anus. Gut enclosed within body cavity surrounded by hexaradial filter-feeding segments arranged longitudinally and filling most of calyx. Outer surface of each segment consists of fine, diagonally oriented, parallel striae. Internally, pair of thick transverse comb-like grooves (>30? pairs per segment) occupies most of width and height of segments. Grooves taper to thin point towards body cavity and connect to larger groove extending from top of calyx to level of lower gut along outer edge of segments. Stem flexible but generally straight; of uniform width, and divided into inner and outer layer. Length (sag.) of stem one to three times length of calyx (modified from O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012, based on new information provided by S. lloydguntheri n. sp.).

Occurrence

Tulip beds locality (see O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012), Campsite Cliff Shale Member, Burgess Shale Formation on Mount Stephen, British Columbia, Canada, middle Cambrian, Series 3, Stage 5, lowermost Bathyuriscus Biozone; and Langston Formation, Spence Shale Member, Antimony Canyon area, west flank of the Wellsville Mountains, Utah, (41.561 N, 112.006 W), middle Cambrian, Series 3, Stage 5, Glossopleura Biozone.

Remarks

The new species from the Spence Shale possesses the diagnostic characteristics of the genus, including directly comparable stem and holdfast structures, the placement of the digestive tract in the lower part of the calyx, the presence of sheath protrusions in the outer wall of the calyx, the placement of the anus, and the shape of the upper part of the calyx.

Siphusauctum lloydguntheri new species

Figures 2.1, 2.2, 3.1–3.4, 4.1–4.4

Figure 2

Holotype of Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. (KUMIP 135150) from the Spence Shale, middle Cambrian, Antimony Canyon, Utah, in lateral view: (1) part; (2) counterpart. Scale bar represents 10 mm.

Figure 3

Close-up of the calyx of the holotype of Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. (KUMIP 135150) from the Spence Shale, middle Cambrian, Antimony Canyon, Utah: (1) part; (2) explanatory drawing of the part, dashed line indicates uncertain outline; (3) counterpart; (4) explanatory drawing of the counterpart, dashed line indicates uncertain outline. Scale bar represents 5 mm. Abbreviations: A=Anus, ES=External Sheath, LDT=Lower digestive tract, G=Gut.

Figure 4

Close-up of the stem of the holotype of Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. (KUMIP 135150) from the Spence Shale, middle Cambrian, Antimony Canyon, Utah: (1) part; (2) explanatory drawing of the part, dashed line indicates uncertain outline; (3) counterpart; (4) explanatory drawing of the counterpart, dashed line indicates uncertain outline. Scale bar represents 5 mm. Abbreviations: H=Holdfast, IS=Inner Stem, OS=Outer Stem.

2012Siphusauctum sp.; Reference O’Brien and CaronO’Brien and Caron, p. 6.

Holotype

KUMIP 135150, one laterally compressed specimen, preserved as both part and counterpart.

Diagnosis

Soft-bodied stalked metazoan with chalice-like body, obovate calyx with thickened external sheath, pair of small lateral protrusions half way up calyx, narrow internal stem mantled by outer stem, and flattened holdfast growing out of inner stem at base. Stem-length to calyx-length ratio 1.3:1.

Occurrence

Langston Formation, Spence Shale Member, Antimony Canyon area, west flank of the Wellsville Mountains, Utah, (41.561 N, 112.006 W), middle Cambrian, Series 3, Stage 5, Glossopleura Biozone.

Description

The specimen is laterally compressed and composed of an obovate calyx-like upper part, with maximum length 35.1 mm and maximum width 25.9 mm, and a slim stem, which is 45.6 mm long, has a maximum width of 5.5 mm, and ends in a flattened basal holdfast that is 5.7 mm wide and 0.9 mm high.

The stem is composed of an inner and outer stem (Fig. 4.1–4.4). The slender inner stem terminates in the holdfast and extends upward at least into the base of the calyx, perhaps slightly higher, is 2.4 mm wide just above the holdfast, reaches a minimum width of 1.5 mm near the center of the stem, and has width of 1.7 mm at the base of the calyx. The outer stem is preserved from the base of the calyx to ~16.8 mm above the holdfast. It appears to have continued past the point of preservation and likely extended all the way to the holdfast. Where the outer stem is preserved, it has a width of ~5.5 mm and appears to have mantled the inner stem. The outer stem has wrinkles or grooves near the base of the calyx, but is smooth from 10 mm beneath the calyx to the limits of preservation. The inner and outer stem were likely made of different tissues, because the inner stem has a greater preservation potential than the outer stem. The holdfast appears to be a direct continuation of the inner stem, and was likely made of the same tissue. It is 5.7 mm wide and 0.9 mm high.

The stem smoothly extends into the conical base of the calyx (Fig. 3.1–3.4) and through the bottom 15.9 mm of the calyx, which is approximately half way up the calyx, roughly opposite a pair of small lateral protrusions from the calyx outer wall. The angle between the outer wall of the calyx and the stem is ~125˚. Because the outer stem is preserved in the same way as the lower part of the calyx, it suggests that the calyx and the stem may have formed a continuous functional unit. There is a direct connection between the carbonaceous part of the stem that is preserved at the base of the calyx and the ovoid structure above it, which likely represents part of the digestive tract.

The obovate calyx seems to have been covered by a thick, likely compressed, outer sheath. Half way up the outer sheath of the calyx, the specimen has small (0.8 mm) protrusions present on both sides of the calyx; each protrusion could be an opening in the calyx, as it is not preserved as prominently as the surrounding outer sheath of the calyx. The only interior parts of the calyx preserved are two basal, dark, carbonaceous structures, connected by a small piece of tissue. These are interpreted as part of the lower digestive tract. The upper structure is relatively elongate, ~5.7 mm wide by 6.5 mm long; the lower structure is nearly square, ~5.7 mm by 5.7 mm.

The calyx has fine, elongate carbonaceous structures that start about half way up the calyx and end at the outer sheath at the top of the calyx. These are inferred to be comb segments, although no transverse grooves or striae are preserved. Alternatively, they might represent openings into the interior of the calyx, where a possibly fixed filter apparatus might have been located.

Two grooves are preserved near the top of the calyx. These grooves are 6.9 mm and 8.5 mm away from the edge of the calyx and may indicate the location of the anus.

Etymology

After Lloyd Gunther, who collected and donated the specimen.

Remarks

Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. differs from S. gregarium by having an obovate calyx, as opposed to an orbicular calyx. In particular, in S. lloydguntheri the calyx projects at a larger angle, as measured upwards from the stem, and is slimmer, relative to S. gregarium. Although aspects of these features could vary with degree of preservation and angle to bedding plane, the fact that so many specimens of S. gregarium examined by O’Brien and Caron (Reference O’Brien and Caron2012) do not exhibit these characteristics suggests some underlying biological differences. The lower digestive tract is also closer to the base of the calyx than in S. gregarium. While thin structures indicating grooves or the upper digestive tract are present in S. lloydguntheri n. sp., there is no indication of transverse grooves, striae, or comb segments. This is different from the condition in S. gregarium. It may be that these were simply not preserved, or perhaps the filter itself and the overlying external sheath of the calyx were more rigid in S. lloydguntheri n. sp. The differences identified between the two species have been used to amend the genus-level diagnosis. It might be that some of the differences are a result of taphonomic artifact, rather than representing actual biological differences, but the copious material of S. gregarium studied by O’Brien and Caron (Reference O’Brien and Caron2012) does not appear to show these features.

Discussion

Life mode and biologic affinities

It is difficult to determine the mode of life for S. lloydguntheri n. sp. because only one specimen is known. It is likely that, like S. gregarium, it was a sessile to semi-sessile animal and anchored itself in the soft sediment. If it was semi-sessile, the holdfast was likely retractable, as assumed for S. gregarium (O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012), but more specimens are needed to confirm this assumption. Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. would have likely moved with bottom currents because there are no apparent body parts to indicate it was an active swimmer. While S. gregarium was a gregarious animal, only one specimen of S. lloydguntheri n. sp. is known from the Spence Shale. This might be a result of transportation of the specimen to its burial place, or could perhaps indicate a more solitary mode of life. The presence of well-preserved planktonic algae buried alongside S. lloydguntheri n. sp. and several specimens of S. gregarium, as well as the exposed holdfast, suggest some minor transportation took place. O’Brien and Caron (Reference O’Brien and Caron2012) mentioned that no budding polyps have been observed on the stem or calyx of S. gregarium, and S. lloydguntheri n. sp. does not preserve any evidence of budding either, although this might be a taphonomic bias.

O’Brien and Caron (Reference O’Brien and Caron2012) compared Siphusauctum gregarium with several other stalked organisms and did not uncover any close relatives among extinct or extant animals. Reevaluating this information, and given that S. lloydguntheri n. sp. differs in some respects from S. gregarium, thereby providing some new information on the morphology of Siphusauctum, the potential affinities of the taxon are worth reconsidering. In particular, the absent prominent comb segments of S. lloydguntheri, if a true absence, suggests possible affinity with Dinomischus isolatus. These might be the shared plesiomorphic condition, with the comb segments acquired in S. gregarium. The calyx of Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. has an obovate outline similar to that of the crown of D. isolatus, and both have the digestive tract or stomach closer to the base of the calyx than S. gregarium. However, Siphosauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. lacks several characteristic features of Dinomischus, including the bracts and the very long stem lacking a distinction between inner and outer parts (see Conway Morris, Reference Conway Morris1977; Chen et al., Reference Chen, Hou and Hao-Zhi1989). Thus, a direct sister group relationship between the two is not indicated. Conway Morris (Reference Conway Morris1977) suggested that Dinomischus possesses characteristics of entoprocts, a minute, extant, “pseudocoelomate” grade phylum, which is an interpretation challenged by Todd and Taylor (Reference Todd and Taylor1992). If Conway Morris’ (Reference Conway Morris1977) interpretation ultimately is vindicated, given the commonalities of the two taxa, this would suggest a potential link to entoprocts for Siphusauctum as well. Entoprocts possess six-fold symmetry in the crown or calyx, which both Dinomischus and Siphusauctum also have: a shared feature not previously identified (Conway Morris, Reference Conway Morris1977; O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012). Given that symmetry patterns characterize several higher taxa (e.g., Echinodermata), and six-fold symmetry can otherwise only be found in some cnidarians (e.g., Hexacorallia), this is potentially strong evidence for treating both Dinomischus and Siphusauctum as stem-group entoprocts. However, further direct comparisons among Siphusauctum, Dinomischus, and modern entoprocts are at present difficult, due to the minute size of the latter. Some previous comparisons of BST organisms have suggested affinities with modern groups that differ substantially in size. For example, Lieberman (Reference Lieberman2008) described how taxa known from Burgess Shale-type deposits that reached substantial body size, such as vetulicolians, share certain traits in common with minute extant “pseudocoelomate” grade organisms, such as kinorhynchs. Zhang et al. (Reference Zhang, Holmer, Skovsted, Brock, Budd, Fu, Zhang, Shu, Han, Liu, Wang, Butler and Li2013) identified a similar phenomenon when they favorably compared the macroscopic early Cambrian Cotyledion from the Chengjiang biota with entoprocts. Unfortunately, the tentacles ringing the margin of the calyx are not completely preserved in Cotyledion (Zhang et al., Reference Zhang, Holmer, Skovsted, Brock, Budd, Fu, Zhang, Shu, Han, Liu, Wang, Butler and Li2013). Because the precise number of tentacles could not be determined, although Zhang et al. (Reference Zhang, Holmer, Skovsted, Brock, Budd, Fu, Zhang, Shu, Han, Liu, Wang, Butler and Li2013) estimated there is space for approximately 34 of them, it is impossible to verify whether six-fold symmetry is also seen in this putative stem entoproct. Cotyledion does differ from Siphusauctum in several respects. The former appears to be covered with sclerites, and seems to lack the pronounced distinction between inner and outer stems, although this could be present but obscured by what Zhang et al. (Reference Zhang, Holmer, Skovsted, Brock, Budd, Fu, Zhang, Shu, Han, Liu, Wang, Butler and Li2013) interpreted as a covering of sclerites. However, they both possess a tri-partite body plan, and the overall shape of the calyx is similar, along with the position of the anus. Apart from the seemingly superficial fact that Siphusauctum is organized into a stem and calyx, there appears to be few homologous features shared by it and various Cambrian echinoderms, including Lyracystis, Gogia, and Castericystis (Sprinkle, Reference Sprinkle1973; Ubaghs and Robison, Reference Ubaghs and Robison1988; Sprinkle and Collins, Reference Sprinkle and Collins2006; Zamora and Smith, Reference Zamora and Smith2012). However, it is apparent from the Tulip beds locality, as well as the Spence Shale, that echinoderms and Siphusauctum inhabited the same, or similar, habitats, because they co-occur in both deposits (Sprinkle, Reference Sprinkle1973; O’Brien et al., Reference O’Brien, Caron and Gaines2014).

Taphonomy and ecological associations

Siphusauctum gregarium is extraordinarily abundant in the Tulip beds of Mount Stephen (at least 1,525 specimens), but has not been reported from the Phyllopod bed of the Burgess Shale or the Marble Canyon locality (Caron et al., Reference Caron, Gaines, Aria, Mángano and Streng2014; O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2015), even though these localities contain very species-rich Burgess Shale-type deposits. The mass preservation of specimens in the Tulip beds at present appears to be a singular event, and suggests that the Siphusauctum body might have been less likely to be preserved under the conditions that led to Burgess Shale-type preservation at most localities. This may explain why, after years of excavations in the Spence Shale Member, only one specimen of Siphusauctum has been found. Interestingly, Siphusauctum co-occurs in both the Tulip beds and the Spence Shale with specimens of the algae Marpolia (Fig. 2.1, 2.2; O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012: ROM 61415, fig. 4; ROM 61417, fig. 5B; ROM 61420, fig. 6A). Marpolia was likely a planktonic alga (personal communication, S. LoDuca, 2016), which might indicate that the specimen described herein was transported by currents. Thus, it did not necessarily live on the silica-rich substrate where it was preserved. This interpretation is also supported by the exposed holdfast, which in life would have been buried. If transport did occur, it was likely not via turbidity currents or strong storms because the delicate, soft-bodied S. lloydguntheri n. sp. would be unlikely to survive the associated forces.

Full preservation of the external sheath, the inner stem, and most of the outer stem, as well as parts of the digestive tract and interior calyx structure, indicates a low degree of degradation (Wilson and Butterfield, Reference Wilson and Butterfield2014; Kimmig and Pratt, Reference Kimmig and Pratt2016; Naimark et al., Reference Naimark, Kalinika, Shokurov, Boeva, Markov and Zaytseva2016). The associated Marpolia specimens (Fig. 2.1, 2.2) are also well preserved. Because the internal elements of S. gregarium decayed more slowly than the external sheath (O’Brien and Caron, Reference O’Brien and Caron2012), there are three explanations for the missing comb segments of S. lloydguntheri n. sp. The first possibility is that S. lloydguntheri n. sp. did not actually have comb segments, and the faintly preserved carbonaceous structures represent a somewhat different filtering system from S. gregarium. This possibility seems rather unlikely given the other profound similarities between S. lloydguntheri n. sp. and S. gregarium. The second possibility is that the preservation pathway in the Spence Shale preferably preserved the external tissues of the specimen, and for chemical or biological reasons did not preserve the comb segments. The third possibility is that the specimen lost its comb segments through transport or scavenging. Unfortunately, no evidence currently exists to differentiate among these three possibilities, but resolving the presence or absence of comb segments in S. lloydguntheri n. sp. is a vital step towards resolving the taxonomic affinities of the genus and determining if Siphusauctum is a stem-group entoproct.

Conclusions

Although S. lloydguntheri n. sp. is very rare, its counterpart S. gregarium has been extremely well characterized, such that it is possible to distinguish the former as lying outside the degree of biological or taphonomical variation shown in the latter. In particular, the different calyx shape, placement of the digestive tract, and the interior calyx structure suggest that separating these two species is warranted. The occurrence of Siphusauctum in the Spence Shale extends its geographic range into the Great Basin, and slightly expands the temporal range for this enigmatic group of early Paleozoic stalked filter feeders. Certain characteristics of S. lloydguntheri n. sp. might suggest a relationship with other Cambrian taxa, such as Dinomischus and Cotyledion, and possibly with modern entoprocts.

Figure 5

Comparison of three species of stalked filter feeders: (1) Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp.; (2) Siphusauctum gregarium; (3) Dinomischus isolatus. Abbreviations: A=Anus, B=Bract, C=Calyx, CS=Comb Segments, ES=External Sheath, G=Gut, H=Holdfast, IS=Inner Stem, LDT=Lower digestive tract, LS=Lower Stem, M=Mouth, MDT=Middle Digestive Tract, OES=Oesophagus, OS=Outer Stem, UDT=Upper Digestive Tract, US=Upper Stem.

Acknowledgments

We thank L. Gunther for collecting and donating the studied material, and we thank J.-B. Caron for discussions regarding it. Two anonymous reviewers, associate editor N. Butterfield, and editor B. Hunda are thanked for their comments on a previous version of the manuscript.

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Figure 0

Figure 1(1) Location of the Spence Shale locality (asterisk; 41.561 N, 112.006 W), Antimony Canyon, Box Elder Co., Utah; (2) Generalized stratigraphic correlation of the major middle Cambrian Burgess Shale-type deposits in Utah.

Figure 1

Figure 2Holotype of Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. (KUMIP 135150) from the Spence Shale, middle Cambrian, Antimony Canyon, Utah, in lateral view: (1) part; (2) counterpart. Scale bar represents 10 mm.

Figure 2

Figure 3Close-up of the calyx of the holotype of Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. (KUMIP 135150) from the Spence Shale, middle Cambrian, Antimony Canyon, Utah: (1) part; (2) explanatory drawing of the part, dashed line indicates uncertain outline; (3) counterpart; (4) explanatory drawing of the counterpart, dashed line indicates uncertain outline. Scale bar represents 5 mm. Abbreviations: A=Anus, ES=External Sheath, LDT=Lower digestive tract, G=Gut.

Figure 3

Figure 4Close-up of the stem of the holotype of Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp. (KUMIP 135150) from the Spence Shale, middle Cambrian, Antimony Canyon, Utah: (1) part; (2) explanatory drawing of the part, dashed line indicates uncertain outline; (3) counterpart; (4) explanatory drawing of the counterpart, dashed line indicates uncertain outline. Scale bar represents 5 mm. Abbreviations: H=Holdfast, IS=Inner Stem, OS=Outer Stem.

Figure 4

Figure 5Comparison of three species of stalked filter feeders: (1)Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n. sp.; (2)Siphusauctum gregarium; (3)Dinomischus isolatus. Abbreviations: A=Anus, B=Bract, C=Calyx, CS=Comb Segments, ES=External Sheath, G=Gut, H=Holdfast, IS=Inner Stem, LDT=Lower digestive tract, LS=Lower Stem, M=Mouth, MDT=Middle Digestive Tract, OES=Oesophagus, OS=Outer Stem, UDT=Upper Digestive Tract, US=Upper Stem.