Nanosaurus Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 I apologize that this is just one photo taken by my phone, but that is all I have to use at the moment. This fossil (about 6 cm long) is from the middle Cambrian Spence Shale of Oneida Narrows, Idaho. I am leaning towards a sponge? Does anyone have any idea what this is? Thanks for the help! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Not a taxonomic assessment,but Triticispongia and Choia are among the possibilities. The taphonomy of sponges is complex 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 fromPaleontologica Electonica 16.2.9a: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Could be an algae, Marpolia has been found in Cambrian Spence Shale. Or trace fossil like Oldhamia. Also disclaimer I’m not farmiliar with the area, just did some online research, so please tell me why I’m wrong! Lol best way to learn is throw ideas out and have them explained to you why they are incorrect... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Ii've thought of Marpolia,too,BTW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanosaurus Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 Thanks everyone. I am leaning towards a sponge after a variety of opinions. I lean away from Marpolia because the structures I am interpreting as spicules are entirely straight instead of wavy as in the Marpolia pics I am seeing at least. Though I am still open to any suggestions. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 spicules?You haven't shown any microscopic pictures? a good Marpolia paper: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanosaurus Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 Sorry I meant the long spines of the fossil, I am not that knowledgeable on sponges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 7 hours ago, doushantuo said: spicules?You haven't shown any microscopic pictures? a good Marpolia paper: Aaaaah Deutsche! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Just a comment on my inability to read German... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 The long spines could indeed be single spicules, or bundles of them. If it is a protomonaxonid, they only have oxeas (monaxons pointed at both ends) (according to the recent Treatise, my main source of sponge info) . Very nice whatever it is. (Sponge looks good.) 2 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 excerpt from Beresi, M.S. & Rigby, J.K. 2013. Middle Cambrian protospongiid sponges and chancelloriids from the Precordillera of Mendoza Province, western Argentina. – N. Jb. Geol. Paläont. Abh., 268: 259–274 J.P. Botting. 2007. ‘Cambrian’ demosponges in the Ordovician of Morocco: Insights into the early evolutionary history of sponges. Geobios 40: 737–748 3 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanosaurus Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 Thanks for the help everyone. I think sponge is reasonable for the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spongy Joe Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 After many years pondering, I've finally signed up - because of stumbling across this thread! First thing: well done all, on getting it as a sponge. Second thing: I've got to say it is a truly spectacular specimen. The main key to understanding it is those really large spicules, which get wider downwards, until they disappear - that's a really odd feature restricted to one group of derived protomonaxonids. Classifying it is slightly tricky, as it could be a new species of Hamptonia, or a Lenica species. The spicules are very similar to the array seen in Lenica unica (widespread from China to Greenland), but that species is unknown as a complete specimen (it's normally too big to fit on the slab...); it does, however, have fine longitudinal ridges running down the large spicules, which should be distinctive in your specimen if they're there. Lenica (sometimes referred to as Choia in the literature) hindei is more discoidal in outline, rather than the tall conical form in this species. This specimen shows what looks to be a unique amount of detail in the arrangement of the spicules, and is far better than most specimens of these genera that are known. In other words, this really is one to treasure. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 Indeed, it is an amazing, rare and beautiful specimen. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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