Cambrian Series 2 (Stages 3-4) Small Shelly Fossils from East Antarctica

An assemblage of Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3-4 small shelly fossils has been recovered from the Shackleton Limestone and Holyoake Formations of East Antarctica. Small shelly fossils from the early Cambrian are an important window into the world of Cambrian palaeobiology, biostratigraphy and biogeography. The aim of this thesis is to add this view the previously under-described fauna from East Antarctica. The molluscs from the Shackleton Limestone prove important in biostratigraphic correlation to South Australia, North-East Greenland, North China and South China. Morphometric analysis of these has also yielded insights into inter- and intraspecific variation in the helcionelloid mollusc Mackinnonia. The remaining fauna contains certain key taxa for biostratigraphic comparison, such as the tommotiid Dailyatia odyssei, the bradoriid arthropod Spinospitella coronata and the brachiopod Karathele yokensis. This allows for direct correlation with the Cambrian Series 2 Stages 3-4 Dailyatia odyssei Zone of South Australia, further strengthening an already recognised close relationship between the faunas of East Antarctica and South Australia