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Morphological Relationships of Ancyrospora Species from the Givetian and Frasnian Deposits of the Pan-Arctic Region

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Abstract

Miospores with spines that have bifurcate tips and an equatorial flange from the genus Ancyrospora were an important part of the Mid and Late Devonian spore flora. A number of the early species were described from the Arctic regions of both Canada (Nunavut) and the Timan, Russia. The history of the genus Ancyrospora is reviewed, rediagnosed and compared with Hystricosporites and Nikitinsporites two genera that also possess bifurcate tipped spines. Material from Arctic Canada and Russia was investigated to compare the Givetian and Frasnian species of Ancyrospora that were described in early publications by McGregor, Owens, and Naumova. The species Ancyrospora ampulla, A. melvillensis, A. simplex, A. incisa, A. arguta, A. laciniosa and A. polyacantha are illustrated and described using the same terminology including profiles of the bifurcate sculptural elements. Morphological lineages are recognised between the different species and the Ancyrospora melvillensis morphon defined. Comparative range charts are presented from both Arctic Canada and Russia. Many of the taxonomic issues in comparing Canadian and Russian Ancyrospora are resolved.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

OPT and JEAM gratefully acknowledge receipt of financial support from UK-Russia Royal Society Joint Project 16531. We would like to express our gratitude to Svetlana Polevova (Biology Faculty of Moscow State University) who prepared the material for TEM analysis.

This sub-project to compare Arctic Ancyrospora was initiated by Bernard Owens who since his post-doctoral fellowship in Canada (1963–1965) had always wanted to compare the Russian and Canadian species. Bernard completed the bulk of the paper during his retirement and under challenging circumstances. It has subsequently been completed and largely from the original manuscript by the junior authors.

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This work was carried out with partial financial support from the RFBR grant no. 20-05-00445.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, S10 2TN, Sheffield, UK

    B. Owens & Ch. H. Wellman

  2. School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, SO14 3ZH, Southampton, UK

    J. E. A. Marshall

  3. Institute of Geology, Komi Science Centre Russian Academy of Sciences (Ural Division), Syktyvkar, Komi Republic, Russia

    O. P. Telnova

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  1. B. Owens
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Correspondence to J. E. A. Marshall, O. P. Telnova or Ch. H. Wellman.

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Owens, B., Marshall, J.E., Telnova, O.P. et al. Morphological Relationships of Ancyrospora Species from the Givetian and Frasnian Deposits of the Pan-Arctic Region. Paleontol. J. 56, 1032–1054 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030122090052

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