New Data Obtained with CT Scanning on Platypeltoides cuervoae (Corbacho & López-Soriano, 2012) Nileidae from the Lower Ordovician; Western Anti-Atlas, Morocco

Abstract

The present study illustrates for the first time the ventral aspect and the hypostome of Platypeltoides cuervoae (Corbacho and Lopez-Soriano, 2012) of the Upper part of the Lower Fezouata Formation (Lower Ordovician: Tremadocian) of the Guelmim area; Western Anti-Atlas, Morocco. Computed tomography of the holotype and paratype kept at the Natural History Museum in London (United Kingdom) for the conduct of a study on computed tomography and radiography as expert legal evidence in paleontology has revealed the hypotheses of the two previously cited specimens (Corbacho and Lopez-Soriano, 2012) and another disarticulated specimen below, which was discovered during the computed tomography process. All CT Scanning images in this article have been obtained from a CT Scanned at the Natural History Museum, London, UK. By describing the ventral aspect and the hypostomes of the specimens studied in this article, any possible uncertainty and affiliation to Nileidae is stated and dissipated as suggested by Gutierrez Marco, Sa, Garcia Bellido and Chacaltana as belonging to Asaphidae, incorrectly suggesting that It is the species: Asaphellus stubssi Fortey, 2009. Consequently, membership in the Nileidae family is reaffirmed and Asaphidae is ruled out. The genus Platypeltoides is also reaffirmed and Asaphellus is discarded. Being the correct species Platypeltoides cuervoae (Corbacho & Lopez-Soriano, 2012).