Cambrian Bradoriida and Phosphatocopida (Arthropoda) of the former Soviet Union

Abstract. Some 40 bradoriid and phosphatocopid (Arthropoda) species are known from the Cambrian of the former Soviet Union. The faunas occur chiefly in Asia (mostly Siberia and Kazakhstan; also Kirghizia); west of the Urals bradoriid and phosphatocopid faunas are sparse, occurring in the Leningrad region, Belarus and Estonia. Most specimens are recovered as crack-out material from clastic and impure carbonate rocks; acid resistant valves from limestones are a minor component of the known faunas.

Early Cambrian (Atdabanian-Botomian) faunas are widespread; middle and late Cambrian faunas are scarcer and are known largely from Siberia and Kazakhstan. Though many species are seemingly short-ranging, currently most have only local biostratigraphic significance, with only a few having practical international correlative value.

Palaeogeographically, faunas west of the Urals show affinites with those of the Early Palaeozoic Baltica and Avalonia palaeocontinents (Olenellid trilobite realm). Siberian and central Asian (Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Gorny–Altay–Mongolian belt) faunas show clear affinities with those of palaeocontinental South China and eastern Gondwana (Redlichiid trilobite realm).