THE TYPE SPECIES OF THE BRACHIOPOD YUNNANELLINA FROM THE DEVONIAN OF SOUTH CHINA

Yunnanellina hamburyi, the type species of the genus, is widely distri buted in South China. Study of the external and internal features of a bundant specimens from three sections in central Hunan indicates that other previously described nominal species and subspecies of Yunnanell ina from the Upper Devonian of South China, are junior synonyms of the type species. Y. hanburyi is very varied in both external form and in ternal structures. Internally, the septalium may be open, or covered a nteriorly by a connectivum. This connectivum shows a systematic change with time and, on this basis, three morphotypes have been established which comprise the Y. hanburyi lineage. The stratigraphical range of the lineage can be correlated with the upper crepida Zone (Early Famen nian).