An exceptionally preserved conulariid from Ordovician erratics of Northern European Lowlands

A conulariid preserved in three dimensions from Ordovician fluvioglacial erratics of the Northern European Lowlands (North German Plain) is described under open nomenclature. It is assigned to the genus Conularia with similarities to Baltoscandian conulariids. The lithology of the erratic boulder and fauna contained in it provide important information on the origin and transport direction of the sediment preserved in a kame from the Saalian glaciation. This paper deals with the site of origin of the boulder in Baltoscandia analysing the comprised palaeofauna, from a palaeostratigraphic and palaeogeographic point of view, from its deposition in Ordovician times until its arrival at its current location in the Late Pleistocene. It also reveals for the first time the internal structure of the conulariid aperture.

Automated summary

The study describes a three-dimensionally preserved conulariid specimen from Ordovician fluvioglacial erratics in the Northern European Lowlands, providing insights into the origin and transport direction of the sediment. It also analyzes the origin and deposition process of the boulder from a palaeostratigraphic and palaeogeographic perspective.