Fossil Sponges From Russia

[Missourian]

Since you mentioned uploading sponges ( ), do you have any idea what this sponge could be?:

Argentine Limestone, Kasimovian, Pennsylvanian

Clay County, Missouri

It reminds me of Maeandrostia, but the diameter (3 mm) is smaller than usual, and the internal structure is much finer.

I've been calling it 'Fissispongia', but that's probably no more than a guess....

Edited September 28, 2013 by Missourian

[Missourian]

Wider view:

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

Since you mentioned uploading sponges ( ), do you have any idea what this sponge could be?:

2404-Argentine-sponge-Tubiphytes.jpg

Argentine Limestone, Kasimovian, Pennsylvanian

Clay County, Missouri

It reminds me of Maeandrostia, but the diameter (3 mm) is smaller than usual, and the internal structure is much finer.

I've been calling it 'Fissispongia', but that's probably no more than a guess....

I have no literature on Carboniferous sponges (((( But for me it looks like Maeandrostia sp....may be it is young specimen or small in size...may be it was cut near "beginning"...try to prep it out to see how much sponge is left

[Wrangellian]

You have probably seen my sponges before:

I think I have a confident ID (thanks to 'Piranha' Scott who sent me the paper) of Hormathospongia (dictyota), gen./sp. described from Northern California. It's interesting that you have such a diversity whereas I have only ever found this one species here! I know the Cretaceous was the heyday of the sponges, but maybe it's only certain habitats or taphonomy. Probably your area and mine were completely different paleoenvironments or provinces?

But show it to Dr. Pervushov anyway - I would be curious to hear what he thinks!

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

You have probably seen my sponges before:

Tz233Hormathospongia.jpg Tz463 Sponge.jpg Tz464 sponge.jpg

I think I have a confident ID (thanks to 'Piranha' Scott who sent me the paper) of Hormathospongia (dictyota), gen./sp. described from Northern California. It's interesting that you have such a diversity whereas I have only ever found this one species here! I know the Cretaceous was the heyday of the sponges, but maybe it's only certain habitats or taphonomy. Probably your area and mine were completely different paleoenvironments or provinces?

But show it to Dr. Pervushov anyway - I would be curious to hear what he thinks!

Hormathospongia-page-shr.jpg

I'll show it to prof. Pervushov next week

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

Name: Etheridgea goldfussi

Class: Hexactinellida

Age: K₂st

Location: Saratov, Russian Federation

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

Name: Napaeana absoluta subspecies "bini"

Class: Hexactinellida

Age: K₂st

Location: Saratov, Russian Federation

Primary autonomy.

Primary autonomies appear due to polymerization of initial sponge module by gemmation or fission mechanism failure.

Mechanism of polymerization of initial sponge module you can see at the scheme below.

[Auspex]

This one is particularly interesting; thank you!

[Missourian]

I have similar 'Siamese-twin'-appearing sponges. Can separate individuals merge together when in close proximity?

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

This one is particularly interesting; thank you!

Thanks ))))

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

I have similar 'Siamese-twin'-appearing sponges. Can separate individuals merge together when in close proximity?

I can't separate them...they have single osculum and different sterms (last figure on the scheme)

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

I have similar 'Siamese-twin'-appearing sponges.

Can you show them? ))))))

[Missourian]

I can't separate them...they have single osculum and different sterms (last figure on the scheme)

I meant, can two separate sponges merge their bodies together, or does it have to be two parts of the same sponge?

[Missourian]

Can you show them? ))))))

I had this one in mind, which is two branches merging together:

But I can't tell if any of my Heliospongia merges are separate individuals.

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

I meant, can two separate sponges merge their bodies together, or does it have to be two parts of the same sponge?

There are 2 types of autonomies:

1. 2 or more sponges form a single sponge with a big single osculum but with separate sterms

2. 2 or more sponges form a single sponge with different osculums and remain separated by their general wall

So if 2 or more sponges merge their bodies, they become parts of a big single sponge But this happens due to reproduction mechanism failure! Autonomies, formed in close proximities are unknown.

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

I had this one in mind, which is two branches merging together:

post-6808-0-58497600-1355217194.jpg

But I can't tell if any of my Heliospongia merges are separate individuals.

Heliospongia is a colony sponge. Colony modules can merge together, but they can't form autonomy. Colonies and autonomies are different types of organization of sponges.

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

Name: a fragment of a colony sponge (fam. Leptophragmidae)

Class: Hexactinellida

Age: K₂st

Location: Saratov, Russian Federation

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

Name: undescribed sponge

Class: Hexactinellida

Age: K₂st

Location: Saratov, Russian Federation

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

Name: Coeloptychium rude

Class: Hexactenillida

Age: K₂st

Location: Saratov, Russian Federation

[JohnJ]

OK, I'm not a sponge lover.... I don't know much about them, but I've been watching this topic for some time now and I have a new appreciation of fossil sponges. Evgeny, your presentation is striking and interesting.

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

OK, I'm not a sponge lover.... I don't know much about them, but I've been watching this topic for some time now and I have a new appreciation of fossil sponges. Evgeny, your presentation is striking and interesting.

Thanks! ))))

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

Name: Napaeana striata subspecies "biosculum"

Class: Hexactinellida

Age: K₂st

Location: Saratov, Russian Federation

Primary autonomy

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

Name: Coeloptychium agaricoides

Class: Hexactinellida

Age: K₂st

Location: Saratov, Russian Federation

[Missourian]

Nice flower and vase....

Spectacular forms.

[Evgeny Kotelevsky]

Nice flower and vase....

Spectacular forms.

Thanks )))

Have you find any new Carboniferous sponges? )))