On the evolution and histology of some Cambrian protoconodonts, paraconodonts and primitive euconodonts

Previous reports on the morphological evolution of protoconodonts and paraconodonts are reviewed. The evolutionary trends exhibited by species of the protoconodont genus Gapparodus and the paraconodont genus Westergaadodina are discussed. Based on the present study on histology, genus Paibiconus is protoconodont, while genus Yongshunella is paraconodont (fig. 1 (a)). However, the nature of Huayuanodontus has not been fully understood so far. Recently, the transitional form New Gen. Sensu Miller, 1980 of late Late Cambrian has been found in Hunan Province, South China. It is considered as the Sister-Group of Proconodontus. Moreover, another kind of transitional form of middle Late Cambrian and late Late Cambrian between Prooneotodus notundatus and Pnoconodontus, which looks like Prooneotodus notundatus in gross morphology, but has anterior and posterior costae, has also been found in Hunan, South China. This kind of transitional form is believed to be probably the real intermediate link between Prooneotodus rotundatus and Pnoconodontus, and Prooneotodus rotundatus is most probably the ancestor of Proconodontus. The two transitional forms noted above are all euconodonts by the study of their histology. Unlike the euconodonts of Post-Cambrian, the evolutionary relationships among the species of protoconodonts, paraconodonts and the primitive euconodonts could not be made clear without the histological study on them.

Provincialism of the late Middle through middle Late Cambrian paraconodonts and protoconodonts

Quantitative paleoprovincialism is studied, using a coefficient of similarity (CS) formula. The results indicate that the provincialism of the late Middle through middle Late Cambrian paraconodonts and protoconodonts did exist. The provincialism of Ordovician conodonts can be traced back to late Middle Cambrian. The North China Province and South China Province can be recognized in late Middle Cambrian, whereas the North China Province, South China Province and Balitca Province can be recognized respectively in early Late Cambrian and middle Late Cambrian. The possibility that the larger units of provincialism, i.e. Faunal Regions existed in the areas mentioned above is discussed. It is inferred that the Midcontinent Faunal Region and the Atlantic Faunal Region had existed in early Late Cambrian and middle Late Cambrian. The North China Province was the secondary unit of provincialism in the Midcontinent Faunal Region, while the Baltica Province was that in the Atlantic Faunal Region. The South China