Eupatagus texanus Zachos and Molineux, 2003
Plate: EuTe-10
Series: Eocene Group: Claiborne Formation: Weches (Tyus Member)
Locale: Beaverdam Creek County: Leon Stage: Bartonian
Length: 71.4 mm Width: 62.3 mm Height: 20.8 mm
Specimen in photo: TX 2013.1 (Paratype)
Repository: Non-vertebrate Paleo. Lab., Univ. of Texas
HOLOTYPE INFO:
Holotype: TMM 1438-20 — Non-vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory, University of Texas (Zachos & Molineux, 2003)
Locality: Leon County, Texas (Zachos & Molineux, 2003)
SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY – TAXONOMY
Class: Echinoidea Leske, 1778
Subclass: Euechinoidea Bronn, 1860
Infraclass: Irregularia Latreille, 1825
Superorder: Atelostomata Zittel, 1879
Order: Spatangoida L. Agassiz, 1840
Family: Brissidae Gray, 1855
Genus: EUPATAGUS L. Agassiz, 1847
Species: Eupatagus texanus Zachos & Molineux, 2003
TYPE SPECIES: Eupatagus valenciennesii L. Agassiz, 1847
STRATIGRAPHICAL OCCURRENCE & DISTRIBUTION
Group: Claiborne
Formations: Weches Formation (Tyus Member) (Zachos & Molineux, 2003)
Stratigraphic Units: Middle Eocene, Bartonian/Lutetian
Counties: Leon County
DESCRIPTION
TOP: Length, width, height: 71.4 mm L × 62.3 mm W × 20.8 mm H
Top shape: Oval; widest point midway
Keel: Slight keel down top center from ends
SIDE: Ambitus: About 1/4th from bottom
Side shape: Curved; slightly rounding top, more abruptly curving at both ends
BOTTOM: Keel: Slight keel down bottom center from ends
AMB: Amb shape: Paired ambs pronounced, flush with surface, curved, petaloid, ends closed
Amb primary zones: Unpaired amb faint, flush with surface
Dimensions: Ambs do not reach ambitus. Anterior pair only slightly shorter than posterior pair
PORE PAIRS: Shape: Paired amb pores long, slit-like. Unpaired amb pores very small
TUBERCLES: Primary tubercles: Small tubercles within peripetalous fasciole; some near top of unpaired amb, many adorally . Note: The lack of large primary tubercles within the fasciole is the primary diagnostic difference from other Eupatagus.
FASCIOLE: Fasciole: Subanal fasciole pronounced. Peripetalous fasciole present (inferred from tubercle description)
APICAL SYSTEM: Location: Anterior of center, at apex of test
PERIPROCT (ANUS): Shape & Size: Large; part of periproct missing in specimen
Location: On an indented end
PERISTOME (MOUTH): Shape: Wide, reniform
Location: Anterior of center
Plastron: Small
SPECIMENS STUDIED & CONDITION: Paratype TX 2013.1 .
ETYMOLOGY: Named for the state of Texas.
REMARKS & COMPARISONS
Remarks: Eupatagus texanus is distinguished from Eupatagus carolinensis and Eupatagus antillarum by the absence of large primary tubercles within the peripetalous fasciole; only small tubercles are present (Zachos & Molineux, 2003). The species was described from the Weches Formation of East Texas.
Plate: EuTe-10
Series: Eocene Group: Claiborne Formation: Weches (Tyus Member)
Locale: Beaverdam Creek County: Leon Stage: Bartonian
Length: 71.4 mm Width: 62.3 mm Height: 20.8 mm
Specimen in photo: TX 2013.1 (Paratype)
Repository: Non-vertebrate Paleo. Lab., Univ. of Texas
HOLOTYPE INFO:
Holotype: TMM 1438-20 — Non-vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory, University of Texas (Zachos & Molineux, 2003)
Locality: Leon County, Texas (Zachos & Molineux, 2003)
SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY – TAXONOMY
Class: Echinoidea Leske, 1778
Subclass: Euechinoidea Bronn, 1860
Infraclass: Irregularia Latreille, 1825
Superorder: Atelostomata Zittel, 1879
Order: Spatangoida L. Agassiz, 1840
Family: Brissidae Gray, 1855
Genus: EUPATAGUS L. Agassiz, 1847
Species: Eupatagus texanus Zachos & Molineux, 2003
TYPE SPECIES: Eupatagus valenciennesii L. Agassiz, 1847
STRATIGRAPHICAL OCCURRENCE & DISTRIBUTION
Group: Claiborne
Formations: Weches Formation (Tyus Member) (Zachos & Molineux, 2003)
Stratigraphic Units: Middle Eocene, Bartonian/Lutetian
Counties: Leon County
DESCRIPTION
TOP: Length, width, height: 71.4 mm L × 62.3 mm W × 20.8 mm H
Top shape: Oval; widest point midway
Keel: Slight keel down top center from ends
SIDE: Ambitus: About 1/4th from bottom
Side shape: Curved; slightly rounding top, more abruptly curving at both ends
BOTTOM: Keel: Slight keel down bottom center from ends
AMB: Amb shape: Paired ambs pronounced, flush with surface, curved, petaloid, ends closed
Amb primary zones: Unpaired amb faint, flush with surface
Dimensions: Ambs do not reach ambitus. Anterior pair only slightly shorter than posterior pair
PORE PAIRS: Shape: Paired amb pores long, slit-like. Unpaired amb pores very small
TUBERCLES: Primary tubercles: Small tubercles within peripetalous fasciole; some near top of unpaired amb, many adorally . Note: The lack of large primary tubercles within the fasciole is the primary diagnostic difference from other Eupatagus.
FASCIOLE: Fasciole: Subanal fasciole pronounced. Peripetalous fasciole present (inferred from tubercle description)
APICAL SYSTEM: Location: Anterior of center, at apex of test
PERIPROCT (ANUS): Shape & Size: Large; part of periproct missing in specimen
Location: On an indented end
PERISTOME (MOUTH): Shape: Wide, reniform
Location: Anterior of center
Plastron: Small
SPECIMENS STUDIED & CONDITION: Paratype TX 2013.1 .
ETYMOLOGY: Named for the state of Texas.
REMARKS & COMPARISONS
Remarks: Eupatagus texanus is distinguished from Eupatagus carolinensis and Eupatagus antillarum by the absence of large primary tubercles within the peripetalous fasciole; only small tubercles are present (Zachos & Molineux, 2003). The species was described from the Weches Formation of East Texas.
