A review of echinoderms from Pleistocene marine deposits near Saint John, New Brunswick

Authors

  • Randall F. Miller Natural Sciences Division, New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, New Brunswick E2K1E5, Canada
  • Donald F. McAlpine Natural Sciences Division, New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, New Brunswick E2K1E5, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4138/1726

Abstract

Two species of echinoderm, the brittlestar Ophiura sarsii Lütken and the common green sea urchin Strongylo-centrotus droebachiensis Müller, are found in Pleistocene marine clays near Saint John. Today, both of these echinoderms are considered boreal species and both range from the Arctic to somewhat south of Cape Cod. The species have been known to occur as fossils in the Saint John area since before 1865; however, few specimens actually exist. A summary of specimens in the New Brunswick Museum collections is presented, including brittlestars that probably belong to collections referred to by Sir J.W. Dawson. Two sea urchin specimens, not previously documented, are the only fossil specimens known to exist from this area. RÉSUMÉ Deux espèces d'échinoderme se rencontrent au sein des argiles marines pléistocenes aux environs de Saint-Jean: l'ophiure Ophiura sarsii Lütken et l'oursin vert commun Strongylocenlrotus droebachiensis Müller. De nos jours, ces échinodermes sont tous deux considers comme des espèces boréales et leur aire d'occupation s'étend depuis l'Arctique jusqu'à dépasser quelque peu le sud de Cape Cod. La connaissance à l'état fossile de ces espèces dans la région de Saint-Jean date d'avant 1865; cependant, l'inventaire se réduit à quelques spécimens. On donne un apercu des spécimens dans les collections du Musée du Nouveau-Brunswick, y compris d'ophiures appartenant probablement aux collections auxquelles Sir J.W. Dawson faisait référence. Deux spécimens d'oursin, qui n'ont fait l'objet d'aucune publication jusqu'à ce jour, constituent les seuls exemplaires fossiles connus pour provenir de cette région. [Traduit par le journal]

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Published

1991-09-01

How to Cite

Miller, R. F., & McAlpine, D. F. (1991). A review of echinoderms from Pleistocene marine deposits near Saint John, New Brunswick. Atlantic Geoscience, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.4138/1726

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 2 (1991)

Section

Articles

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