A numerical taxonomic study of Late Carboniferous Spiriferidina from eastern Australia

Species of Late Carboniferous spiriferidines belonging to the genera Alispirifer, Licharewia, Neospirifer, Spirifer, Liriplica, and Spinuliplica are analyzed on the basis of fifty-two different morphological characters. A computer program for cluster analysis is used which ensures that each character is given equal weighting, and the degrees of similarity between species are measured objectively.

The resulting classification is similar to the conventional one, with three exceptions. It is recommended that Spinuliplica spinulosa Campbell and Liriplica alta Campbell be assigned to one genus, Liriplica; Licharewia bootiensis Thompson be assigned to the genus, Alispirifer; and Spirifer pristinus (Maxwell) be reassigned to the genus Neospirifer.

A method of graphical analysis using contour diagrams is also presented as an alternative method of illustrating the relationships between the different species of spiriferidines.