Brachiopods of the Lower Carboniferous Vegamian Formation (Cantabrian Mts, Spain): Part I. Introduction, Linguliformea

Abstract

The history of the Tournaisian Vegamian Formation of the Cantabrian Mts (Spain) consisting of gray to black shales with a typical quiet-water ("Culm") fauna characterised by Linguliformea and small Rhynchonelliformea, is discussed. After an overview of the faunas studied thus far, an evaluation of the age of the Vegamian Formation is given, concluding to the Tournaisian, mainly middle to late Tournaisian. Also, the environment of deposition is discussed.
The linguliform fauna, discussed in this first part, is found mainly in the black, thinly bedded shales. Species of the genera "Lingula ", Lachrymula and Orbiculoidea are described, including the new species Lachrymula truyolsi. The new subfamily Lachrymulinae of the Lingulidae is created for the genera Lachrymula and Trigonoglossa. It is distinguished from the Lingulinae by a relatively thick, subtriangular shell with a distinct pedicle groove and a rugose ornamentation.
The rhynchonelliform fauna, occurring mostly in more thickly bedded, often decalcified grayish layers, will be dealt with in a subsequent paper.