Parkula sp.

Skovsted, Christian B. & Peel, John S., 2007, Small shelly fossils from the argillaceous facies of the Lower Cambrian Forteau Formation of western Newfoundland, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 52 (4), pp. 729-748 : 738

Parkula sp.

Fig. 5A–C.

Type species: Parkula bounites Bengtson, 1990 (by monotypy).

Material.—Conchs: NFM−694 and 73 additional specimens from samples ICS 1421, ICS 1422, ICS 1518, ICS 1519, and JSP1982−01; Opercula: NFM−695, NFM−696, and nine additional specimens from sample ICS 1421.

Description.—The conch expands rapidly, with a triangular cross−section. The operculum has a wedge−shaped, crescentic cardinal shield and a strongly convex conical shield. One pair of short cardinal processes and one pair of narrow clavicles (diverging by about 80 °) are present on the internal surface.

Discussion.—Hyolithids are represented in the Forteau Formation of western Newfoundland by internal moulds as well as silicified conchs and opercula of Parkula sp. Two specimens are internal moulds of the complete individual, preserving impressions of both conch, operculum and helens ( Fig. 5A and one unfigured specimen). The opercula are similar to those of Parkula bounites Bengtson, 1990 from Australia and Greenland, but the outline is more triangular in shape and the conch appears to be more rapidly expanding than conchs of P. bounites . Poor preservation does not allow detailed comparison of internal morphology to that of better preserved opercula from Australia ( Bengtson et al. 1990) or Greenland ( Malinky and Skovsted 2004).