New data on Carboniferous crinoids from the Moscow Region*

Despite more than 150 years of study of crinoids from the Moscow Region there are numerous undescribed taxa from well-known localities as well as others from poorly known localities. In recent years, through the acquisition of new collections as well as new discoveries, the holdings of Carboniferous crinoids of the Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Science have been greatly increased. This has allowed a more detailed study of the faunas, which is in pro­gress. Among the crinoids in the collection there are representatives of the family Pirasocrinidae Moore & Laudon, 1943, that are abundant in the Pennsylvanian of the USA, and previously unknown in the Carboniferous of the Moscow Region, as well as representatives of the genera Allosocrinus Strimple, 1949, Cibolocrinus Weller, 1909 and Elibatocrinus Moore, 1940, also previously unknown in the Moscow Region. There is also the first recognized Pennsylvanian member of the family Taxocrinidae Angelin, 1878. The stratigraphic distribution of the most common crinoids from the Carboniferous of the Moscow Region is compiled. The crinoid faunas that characterize the Upper Carboniferous Substages are described. They are represented by at least four crinoid faunas (Myachkovian, Khamovnikian, Dobryatinian and Noginskian) which are named respectively for the Substages name. The most typical crinoids of these faunas are mentioned, including unde­scribed forms. All previously described valid species of crinoids from the Carboniferous of the Moscow Region are listed.