Silurian tentaculitids from Gotland and Scania

Tentaculitids from the Silurian of Gotland and Scania, Sweden, have been examined as to their morphology, taxonomy, ecology and biostratigraphical properties. The material derives from 427 localities covering the upper Llandoverian to lower Downtonian sequence. The rich and well preserved faunas represent four families (of which GotlandeIlitidae is new), nine genera (of which Tractabilopsis and Gotlandellites are new), and 44 species, 41 of which are new. Members of the family Uniconidae have not been examined. The morphology of tentaculitids is described, and several new morphological terms are introduced. Some hypotheses on their ecology, mode of life, and zoological affinity are also discussed. Their usefulness for biostratigraphical purposes is demonstrated.