Revision of the Early Carboniferous trilobite Linguaphillipsia , with a new species from Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia

This study examines the morphology and palaeobiogeography of species assigned to the Early Carboniferous trilobite Linguaphillipsia. We recognize 27 valid species found in Tournaisian and Viséan deposits worldwide. We provide an updated generic diagnosis, with four previously recognized species groups revised. The terapaiensis-group and scabra-group are considered synonymous, while the longicornuta-group and strabonis-group are retained. Linguaphillipsia exhibits a restricted palaeogeographical distribution around the tropical Palaeo-Tethys Ocean, together with the shallow marine margins of eastern Gondwana (Australia). During the Tournaisian, 15 species of Linguaphillipsia ranged across what is now Europe, Asia, and eastern Australia, each showing distinct provincialism. This distribution persisted into the Viséan, although the number of species decreased, particularly in eastern Palaeo-Tethys of Asia. The genus did not survive to the end of the Mississippian. In addition, we describe a new species, Linguaphillipsia buchuensis sp. nov., from Bukit Buchu in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia (East Malaya Block). Based on faunal similarities, we correlate the Bukit Buchu beds with the Charu Formation in Pahang and assign the unit a Viséan (middle Mississippian) age.