Palaeophragmodictya Temporal range: Late Ediacaran,
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Fossil of P. spinosa | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Porifera |
Class: | Hexactinellida |
Order: | † Reticulosa |
Genus: | †
Palaeophragmodictya Gehling & Rigby, 1996 |
Species | |
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Palaeophragmodictya is an extinct genus of sponge-grade organisms from the Ediacaran Period. Originally interpreted as a hexactinellid sponge, [1] the organism also bears some coelomate characteristics, including bilateral symmetry. [2] [3]
The organisms take the form of a rounded, dome-like bag, 7–68 mm in diameter, with an uneven margin. Radial grooves define sac-like compartments within the bag. The radial pattern has an element of bilateral symmetry. A stalk emerges from the central point of some specimens, at the top of the organism; in life, it probably extended into the water column. Ray-like filaments radiate outwards from the edge of the bag. [2] Some structures in the organism have been interpreted as spicules. [1] [4]
The organisms have been interpreted as tall suspension feeders, reaching 10 cm or more up into the sea water above them. [1] [5]
The genus was originally considered to be a member of the Dictyospongiidae family (hexactinellia), and was among the first Precambrian sponges to be described. [1]
First found in the Pound group of Australia, fossils have also been recovered from the White Sea region of Russia. [2]
Palaeophragmodictya Temporal range: Late Ediacaran,
| |
---|---|
![]() | |
Fossil of P. spinosa | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Porifera |
Class: | Hexactinellida |
Order: | † Reticulosa |
Genus: | †
Palaeophragmodictya Gehling & Rigby, 1996 |
Species | |
|
Palaeophragmodictya is an extinct genus of sponge-grade organisms from the Ediacaran Period. Originally interpreted as a hexactinellid sponge, [1] the organism also bears some coelomate characteristics, including bilateral symmetry. [2] [3]
The organisms take the form of a rounded, dome-like bag, 7–68 mm in diameter, with an uneven margin. Radial grooves define sac-like compartments within the bag. The radial pattern has an element of bilateral symmetry. A stalk emerges from the central point of some specimens, at the top of the organism; in life, it probably extended into the water column. Ray-like filaments radiate outwards from the edge of the bag. [2] Some structures in the organism have been interpreted as spicules. [1] [4]
The organisms have been interpreted as tall suspension feeders, reaching 10 cm or more up into the sea water above them. [1] [5]
The genus was originally considered to be a member of the Dictyospongiidae family (hexactinellia), and was among the first Precambrian sponges to be described. [1]
First found in the Pound group of Australia, fossils have also been recovered from the White Sea region of Russia. [2]