Problematic Sclerites Eurytholia from the Lower and Middle Devonian of the Czech Republic

Abstract

Abstract Problematic phosphatic sclerites Eurytholia are reported for the first time from the Middle Devonian. Unequivocal sclerites were observed in limestones of Emsian to late Eifelian age in six localities of the Barrandian area of the Central Bohemia of the Czech Republic. Formerly observed size and shape variations of Eurytholia sclerites prevent formal description of a new species on few specimens of Emsian and Eifelian age. Therefore the new specimens are identified as Eurytholia aff. bohemica. Their presence indicates longer time range of the Eurytholia animal, covering not only the Ordovician, the Silurian and the earliest Devonian as known formerly, but also late Lower Devonian and the Middle Devonian. Similar features in morphology and histology of Eurytholia indicate relationship to a conodont Pseudooneotodus and a support suggestion about the vertebrate origin of Eurytholia sclerites.