Chitinozoa of the Silica Formation (Middle Devonian, Ohio): Vesicle Ornamentation and Paleoecology

The Silica Formation Chitinozoa fauna contains six genera referable to 19 species, including eight that are new: Angochitina gilbertsoni, Ancyrochitina silicensis, Ancyrochitina doylei, Ancyrochitina kutsii, Desmochitina spinosa, Eisenackitina ruthii, Eisenackitina sylvanensis, and Conochitina inflata.

The Silica Chitinozoa vary qualitatively in short vertical sequences of uniform lithology. Some Silica Chitinozoa are facies sensitive, whereas others can tolerate variable environmental conditions. A study of the vesicle wall indicates that ornamentation is a chitinozoan biocharacter and not necessarily the result of postmortem degradation of the outer wall.