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Blastulospongia polytreta n. sp., an enigmatic organism from the Lower Cambrian of Hubei, China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

S. Conway Morris  and
Chen Menge
S. Conway Morris
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, U.K.
Chen Menge
Affiliation:
Institute of Geology, Academia Sinica, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Abstract

Blastulospongia is an enigmatic siliceous fossil with affinities proposed amongst both the sphinctozoan-grade sponges and radiolarians. Blastulospongia polytreta n. sp. extends the record of this genus into the Lower Cambrian (Shuijingtuo Formation) and represents its first occurrence in China (Taishanmiao section, Hubei Province). It differs from previously described species in size and pore spacing. The first evidence for benthic attachment is presented. A relationship with sphinctozoan-grade sponges is considered unlikely, but firm support for a place in the radiolarians is lacking.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 64 , Issue 1 , January 1990 , pp. 26 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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