Chuiella gen. nov (Brachiopoda) and palaeoecology from the Lower Carboniferous of the Kunlun Mountains, NW China

A reexamination of Martiniella Grabau and Tien, 1931 reveals that the type species, M. nasuta Grabau and Tien, is a nomen nudum. Martiniella is thus r estricted to its type species. A new genus, Chuiella gen. nov., is proposed to host the other Chinese species, previously ascribed to Martiniella Grab au and Tien, 1931. In addition, a detailed microfacies, taphonomic and pala eoecological analysis of a fossiliferous bed that contains abundant specime ns of Chuiella gen, nov. from the Early Carboniferous Kelitag Formation of the Damusi area in the western Kunlun Mountains, Xinjiang Province, northwe st China, reveals that species of Chuiella probably lived in a clean, warm, shallow-water marine, high energy environment. A review of all described s pecies of Chuiella suggests this genus is characteristic of the Tournaisian and restricted to the palaeo-equatorial Eastern Tethyan region. Two specie s of Chuiella are described, including one new species: Chuiella aitegouens is gen. et sp. nov.