Myodocope ostracods from the Silurian of Australia

These fossils were recovered from clastic sedimentary deposits in the lower Silurian (probably Homerian) Walker Volcanics unit of New South Wales that may represent mudflow deposits. In having the youngest occurrence of Entomozoe aff. tuberosa and the oldest known Bolbozoe species, the Australian myodocopes represent a chronologically intermediate assemblage between previously known early and late Silurian myodocope faunas.

Several fossil groups from the Silurian of Australia, such as ostracods, trilobites, brachiopods and corals, apparently have a cosmopolitan distribution at generic level. The presence of many continental and micro-continental landmasses that existed along and within the tropical pan-Tethyan seaway, together with the prevailing ocean circulation, could explain this distributional pattern. The depositional setting, sedimentary deposits and faunal associates do not provide conclusive evidence concerning the lifestyle of the Australian myodocopes.