A new species of the problematic organism Webbyites from the Early Ordovician Fezouata Biota of Morocco

Abstract

The problematic colonial organism Webbyites has previously been considered to be a hydroid (phylum Cnidaria). In this paper, we describe a new species, Webbyites felix sp. nov., from the Early Ordovician Fezouata Konservat-Lagerstätte of Morocco. One specimen preserves some soft-tissue zooid remains. The presence of a stolon system in the new species and the type species indicates that Webbyites is a benthic graptolite. Webbyites lacks bithecae; thus, it is not a dendroid graptolite.