The irregular echinoid Nucleopygus from the Upper Cretaceous of western Jamaica

Late Cretaceous echinoids of Jamaica are moderately diverse, but specimens are rare. The upper Santonian Clifton Limestone Member (Mount Peace Formation) of the Lucea Inlier (western Jamaica) includes common tests of Nucleopygus cubensis Weisbord preserved in oosparites. This species was previously reported from Cuba. The test is ovate, rounded anteriorly and rounded to more truncate posteriorly, moderately high domed, highest posterior to the apical system; the posterior sulcus is deep, narrow and short; and the ambulacral petals are open, but closing. The local accumulation of this echinoid is interpreted as a habitat preference for this echinoid, which is unknown from other lithofacies. It is commonly preserved as a complete test, suggesting it was particularly robust by analogy with material from other echinoid "conglomerates". (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.