Micro-CT study of Middle Ordovician Spumellaria (radiolarians) from western Newfoundland, Canada

• Published in: Journal of Paleontology
• Main Authors: Sarah Kachovich, Jonathan C. Aitchison
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: The Paleontological Society 2020
• Subjects: Canada; Table Cove; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2019.88

A new, previously undescribed Middle Ordovician (middle Darriwilian: Dw2) radiolarian assemblage has been recovered from the Table Cove Formation at Piccadilly Quarry, western Newfoundland. Constituents of the fauna described herein are both distinctive and exceptionally well preserved. Three-dimensional X-ray micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) is used to make a detailed examination of four key spumellarian specimens. This technology enables visualization of hitherto ambiguous details of the internal morphologies of key lower Paleozoic taxonomic groups, among which a lack of knowledge has impeded resolution of higher taxonomic rankings.