Early Late Cambrian trilobites of Australo-Sinian aspect from the MontagneNoire, southern France

Ten species of Late Cambrian trilobites occur in a limestone lens at the ba se of the Val d'Homs Formation in the Cesse Brook section at Ferrals-les-Mo ntagnes in the Montagne Noire. Associated in this lens are species referred to Ammagnostus (Ammagnostus), Kormagnostus?, Olentella, Stigmatoa, Shengia , Abhurella, Proceratopyge (Proceratopyge), Prochuangia, Palaeadotes and Pa raacidaspis. Of these, Stigmatoa courtessolei and Paraacidaspis ultima are described as new species. The Ferrals fauna has a decidedly Australo-Sinian palaeobiogeographical relationship, with the implication that previously d eveloped models suggesting a high latitudinal position for southern France during the Late Cambrian should perhaps be revised.