Relationships of the Devonian Strobilepis and related Pennsylvanian problematica
Richard D. Hoare and Royal H. Mapes
Reinterpretation of the North American Strobilepis spinigera Clarke 1888 from the Devonian and the find of Diadeloplax paragrapsisma gen. et sp. n. from the Pennsylvanian provide the basis for the recognition of a new class of uncertain affinity, Multiplacophora. The range of the class is Middle Devonian (Erian) to Pennsylvanian (Morrowan). Multiplacophora differ from the order Hercolepadida and the classes Thambetolepida and Polyplacophora in the number, shape, and arrangement of plates; the presence of large spines; and the complexity of internal canal systems in the plates and spines.
Key words: Multiplacophora, Devonian, Pennsylvanlan, problematica.
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