Systematic and biostratigraphy of the genera Parasolenopleura, Badulesia, and Pardailhania in the Iberian Chains: a useful zonation for the Miaolingian Series (former middle Cambrian) in the Mediterranean region

Abstract

The trilobite species of three genera included in the Family Solenopleuridae: Parasolenopleura, Badulesia, and Pardailhania are revised. These genera have a great biostratigraphic interest due to their broad distribution in the Miaolingian Series (former middle Cambrian) of the Mediterranean Subprovince and because they constitute an evolutionary lineage, that facilitates an accurate regional correlation. Two of these genera (Pardailhania and Badulesia) have been used to define middle Cambrian zones in Spain (lower and middle Caesaraugustan, equivalent to the uppermost Wuliuan and the lower Drumian stages). Although, all authors have been using the same species to establish the Mediterranean biozonation of this interval time, the zone concept has been modified since Sdzuy’s original idea. A thorough study of three localities from the Iberian Chains (Murero, Jarque, and Villafeliche) have allowed us to revise the lower and middle Caesaraugustan zonation in the Iberian Chains and for extension, in the Mediterranean region by comparison with the other localities where those genera are recorded. We propose now a review zonation based on trilobite phylozones, including new stratigraphic and systematic data from the Iberian Chains in order to clarify the intercontinental correlation of this time interval