The Silurian retiolitid graptolite Plectograptus: New observations and new species

The Ludlow genus Plectograptus, with the type species Retiolites macilentus Törnquist, 1887, collected from Thuringia (Germany), has been a widely-identified, monospecific, but poorly understood taxon for almost one hundred years. This was due to poor and incomplete preservation of the type material, and misidentification by subsequent authors up to 1995. The original, and only, type specimen of P. macilentus collected by Törnquist being lost, a neotype is herein selected from a small collection of Thuringian material. The genus has now been redefined and based on this, and SEM studies of isolated material, the defining characteristics of the genus are (i) the possession of a simple ancora umbrella with five radial lists with an incompletely developed rim; (ii) an ancora umbrella separated from lateral ancora sleeve walls by exceptionally large lateral orifices; (iii) the possession of mid-ventral lists; (iv) simple, orderly zigzag lateral wall ancora sleeve lists. Recently, two additional species, P. robustus and P. wimani, previously placed in different genera, were assigned to Plectograptus. This study recognizes three new species: P. mobergi, P. toernquisti, and P. trijunctus, bringing the total number of species to six. Species are distinguished by the presence or absence of genicular processes, inclination of the thecal ventral walls and mid-ventral lists, presence or absence of reticular lists, and three-way or four-way sleeve/lateral rod/apertural lip junctions.