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A new post-early Cambrian archaeocyath from Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

Rachel A. Wood ,
Kevin R. Evans  and
Andrey Yu. Zhuravlev
Rachel A. Wood
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, U.K.
Kevin R. Evans
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Kansas, 120 Lindley Hall, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, U.S.A.
Andrey Yu. Zhuravlev
Affiliation:
Palaeontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsuyuznaya ul. 123, Moscow B-321, Russian Federation
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Abstract

A new species of archaeocyath sponge, Dictyocyathus neptunensis, is described from the lower third of the Nelson Limestone of the Neptune Range, Antarctica. Based on the presence of the trilobites Nelsonia schesis and Amphoton oatesi, these strata are interpreted to be mid- to late middle Cambrian in age. D. neptunensis shows a branching, low integration modular form and a very simple skeletal type. Such an organization is predicted from known morphological trends within the early Cambrian Archaeocyatha. Specimens are not in life position, and probably form part of a storm deposit. The absence of Dictyocyathus from latest early Cambrian (Toyonian) strata worldwide suggests a convergent nature for this highly simplified skeletal type in archaeocyaths.

Type
Rapid Communications
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 129 , Issue 4 , July 1992 , pp. 491 - 495
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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