Redescription of two genera of blastoids from China

In this paper we redescribe and reassign two genera of Chinese blastoids previously described by Mu (1955) and Chi (1943) based on our own new collections and those of other Chinese geologists. Mesoblastus tushanensis is reassigned to the Schizoblastidae from the Granatocrinidae based on the presence of ten spiracles and a separate anus and to the new genus Pinguiblastus. Previously Mississippian schizoblastids have been restricted to North America. Pinguiblastus provides a paleogeographic and evolutionary transitional taxon between the North American schizoblastid genera and the very abundant Permian faunas from Timor. Devonoblastus heitaiensis is reassigned to the new genus Sinoblastus based on the presence of large exposed cryptodeltoids, a taxonomically significant character not found in Devonoblastus. This removes known occurrences of Devonoblastus from Asia.