(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1997) Ruta, Marcello
The Upper Eifelian paranacystid mitrate Paranacystis simoneae sp. nov. from the Waboomberg
Formation (Bokkeveld Group, We stern Cape Province, South Africa) is described and a revised
diagnosis of the Family Paranacystidae is presented. Paranacystis simoneae differs from Paranacystis
petrii, the type species of the genus, in possessing a remarkably well-developed right subcentral plate;
the latter extends distally with respect to the distal margins of the left and right intermediate lateral
marginal plates, and bears a robust, distal triangular process. Other features of Paranacystis simoneae
are: the presence of knobs on the proximal three-quarters of the lateral margins of the two proximal
lateral marginal plates; the presence of two latero-distal pits, probably associated with the main orifice
of the body; and a well-developed styloid process. Paranacystis simoneae extends both the geographical
and the stratigraphical range of the genus, and strengthens the links between Malvinokaffric fossil
faunas from the central and western parts of Gondwana in the Devonian.