The palaeoecology of two Scottish encrinites: Jurassic crinoid assemblages from the Trotternish Peninsula, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Hunter, A.W. and Clark, N.D.L. (2009) The palaeoecology of two Scottish encrinites: Jurassic crinoid assemblages from the Trotternish Peninsula, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology, 45, pp. 169-176. (doi: 10.1144/0036-9276/01-366)

Abstract

Despite a long history of investigation, articulate crinoids from the Jurassic of Scotland have not received great attention compared to their counterparts in Southern England or continental Europe; this is thought to be largely due to poor preservation. Two examples of ‘local’ encrinites (rocks almost entirely composed of crinoids debris), one from the Pliensbachian and the other from the Aalenian/Bajocian from the Isle of Skye, are shown to consist of columnals of Hispidocrinus cf. schlumbergeri and Balanocrinus donovani respectively. They represent local encrinites that have been deposited parautochthonously; one in a proximal, and the other in a more offshore low energy environment. This demonstrates that even limited encrinite material can not only be assigned systematically, but can also be used to reconstruct the original palaeoenvironments that the crinoids inhabited.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Crinoid, Jurassic, Isle of Skye, Scotland
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Clark, Dr Neil
• Authors: Hunter, A.W., and Clark, N.D.L.
• Subjects: Q Science > QE Geology
• College/School: University Services > Library and Collection Services > Museum and Art Gallery
• Journal Name: Scottish Journal of Geology
• Publisher: Geological Society of London
• ISSN: 0036-9276
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 Geological Society of London
• First Published: First published in Scottish Journal of Geology 45:169-176
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher