An enigmatic early ? palaeocope ostracode from the Arenig of NW Russia

The ostracode Lavachilina evae gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Arenig of Western Russia. Its carapace possesses a unique discontinuous velum, developed at both ends as a narrow spinose ridge. The systematic position of L. evae is uncertain. Its character set shows mostly palaeocope affinities but also some features of leiocopes. L. evae is tentatively assigned to the palaeocope family Oepikellidae, possibly representing an early member of that family. Although L. evae existed contemporaneously with palaeocopes such as Laccochilina, it does not appear to be closely related to these early eurychilinoids.