A review of Ordovician crinoids from France: New data from the Darriwilian of the Armorican Massif and palaeobiogeographic implications

All known occurrences of crinoids in the Ordovician of France (Armorican Massif, Montagne Noire, Cor-bières and Pyrénées) are reviewed and replaced stratigraphically. Fully articulated crinoids are described for the first time in the Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician) of the Armorican Massif. The disparid crinoid Heviacrinus melendezi is reported from the middle and late Darriwilian (artus and teretiusculus zones )of both Brittany and Normandy, which extends both its geographic distribution and its temporal range. In addition, a new species of Heviacrinus, H. tromelini is described from the late Darriwilian (teretiusculus zone) of both Brittany and Normandy. Finally, three successive French Ordovician crinoid faunas are identified. They show strong palaeobiogeographic affinities with other Gondwanan and peri-Gondwanan assemblages, and in particular with those of the Mediterranean Province.