A new species of brittle star, Ophiomitrella floorae, is recorded from the lower two meters of the Gronsveld Member (Maastricht Formation), of late Maastrichtian age (c. 66.7 Ma). These relatively… Click to show full abstract
A new species of brittle star, Ophiomitrella floorae, is recorded from the lower two meters of the Gronsveld Member (Maastricht Formation), of late Maastrichtian age (c. 66.7 Ma). These relatively fine-grained biocalcarenites reflect shallow-water deposition in a sheltered setting with a relatively firm sea floor and clear waters, under middle sublittoral and subtropical conditions. Associated echinoderm taxa comprise more robust, sturdy-plated ophiomusaid and ophiodermatid brittle stars and numerous bourgueticrinine sea lilies. The new brittle star described herein belongs to a family whose present-day members are predominantly restricted to bathyal depths. Its small size and the exceptional preservation of a single articulated specimen partially wrapped around the stalk of a bourgueticrinine suggest that O. floorae n. sp. was probably epizoic and specifically associated with stalked crinoids.
               
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