Cladid crinoids from the Late Kinderhookian Meadville Shale, Cuyahoga Formation of Ohio

A total of 17 species of cladid crinoids are documented from the late Kinderhookian Meadville Shale Member of the Cuyahoga Formation of northeastern Ohio, the most diverse assemblage of Kinderhookian-age cladids known in North America. One new genus, six new species, and seven new combinations are reported. New taxa includeCuyahogacrinus lodiensisnew genus and species, and the new speciesCyathocrinites simplex, Atelestocrinus meszarosi, Goniocrinus sceletus, Aphelecrinus gracilis, andLebetocrinus ohioensis.New combinations includeLogocrinus warreni(Laudon et al., 1952),Histocrinus aegina(Hall, 1863),Paracosmetocrinus richfieldensis(Worthen, 1882),P. corycia(Hall, 1863),Acylocrinus lyriope(Hall, 1863),Linocrinus merope(Hall, 1863), andL. paternus(Hall, 1863). Remaining taxa includeCyathocrinites lamellosus(White, 1863) andAscetocrinus whitei(Hall, 1861), both of which also occur in the Osagean Burlington Limestone, and the endemic speciesCosmetocrinus crineus(Hall, 1863) andPachylocrinus subtortuosus(Hall, 1863).Collectively, the cosmopolitan genera and species of cladids show a greater overall affinity with Osagean cladid faunas than with other Kinderhookian cladid faunas. However, this is true for other Kinderhookian cladid faunas as well that individually have more taxa in common with Osagean faunas than other Kinderhookian faunas. This suggests a greater degree of endemism and local speciation during the Kinderhookian as a prelude to the rapid radiation of cladids, and other crinoids, during the Osagean.