On the Revision of the Punctate Rhynchonellids of the Genus Araratella (Rhynchonellida, Brachiopoda)

摘要

The widespread punctate rhynchonellids of the genus Araratella Abramian, Plodowski, Sartenaer (Sartenaer and Plodowski, 1975) are revised based on the material from the Upper Devonian, Upper Famennian (Cyrtospirifer pamiricus-Enchondrospirifer ghorensis-Sphenospira julii-Spinocarinifera nigra Zones) of Transcaucasia and literary data. A new peculiarity in the septalium structure is described. It has been found out that the covered septalium of different species of Araratella was variously formed. In one case a cavity forms under the septalium bottom and thus the septalium seems to be covered. In the other case, the septalium is covered by a cover plate. The genus diagnosis is supplied and its species composition is specified. The following species are referred to Araratella: A. dichotomians (Abramian, 1954), A. anatolica Sartenaer et Plodowski, 2003, and A. moresnetensis (de Koninck, 1887). A. centralis Sartenaer et Plodowski, 2003 is tentatively assigned to Tchanakhtchirostrum Sartenaer et Plodowski, 2003.