Recovery of ecosystems after the Taghanic extinction

Kyrtatrypa pauli, a new Givetian brachiopod species from Świętomarz and Laskowa in the Holy Cross Mountains, is described. Palynological analysis allowed a corrected dating of the brachiopod-bearing strata: they postdate the Taghanic Event (up to now they were thought to be older). Kyrtatrypa pauli is thus a key element of ecosystems recovering after the Taghanic extinction. It is homeomorphic (very similar even if not closely related) to Atrypa subtrigonalis occurring in the same area before the Taghanic extinction.

Illustration: Kyrtatrypa pauli, ventral valve of the brachiopod overgrown by auloporid tabulate corals (Laskowa, Givetian; leg. G. Racki, photo A. Baliński; cf. Halamski et al., 2024, fig. 5M)