Sphaerocoeliidae

Sphaerocoeliidae is an extinct family of calcareous sponges, the only family in the monotypic order Sphaerocoeliida. Sphaerocoeliids are one of several unrelated sponge groups described as "sphinctozoans", with a distinctive multi-chambered body structure. Sphaerocoeliids persisted from the Permian to the Cenomanian stage of the Cretaceous, a longer period of time than most other "sphinctozoans". Sphaerocoeliids make up the majority of calcareous "sphinctozoans", as well as a large portion of post-Triassic "sphinctozoan" diversity.[1][2] "Sphinctozoans" and the similar "inozoans" were historically grouped together in the polyphyletic order Pharetronida.[2]

Sphaerocoeliidae
Temporal range:
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Calcarea
Order: †Sphaerocoeliida
Vacelet, 1979
Family: †Sphaerocoeliidae
Steinmann, 1882
Genera

see text.

In general form, sphaerocoeliids are cylindrical, as a chain of dome-shaped chambers stacked up on each other. Each layer is pierced by a central osculum (outflow vent), which has the form of a simple hole. Sphaerocoeliids are hypermineralized, with a skeleton of loose calcareous spicules cemented together in calcite walls.[1][2]

Genera
  • Barroisia Munier-Chalmas, 1882 [Jurassic[2]–Cretaceous (Aptian–Cenomanian)]
  • Sphaerocoelia Steinmann, 1882 [Permian–Cretaceous (Cenomanian)]
  • Sphinctonella Hurcewicz, 1975 [Jurassic (Oxfordian)]
  • Thalamopora Roemer, 1840 [Jurassic[2]–Cretaceous (Cenomanian)]
  • Tremacystia Hinde, 1884 [Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian)]

References
  1. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part E, Revised. Porifera, Volume 3: Classes Demospongea, Hexactinellida, Heteractinida & Calcarea, xxxi + 872 p., 506 fig., 1 table, 2004, available here. ISBN 0-8137-3131-3.
  2. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part E, Revised. Porifera, Volumes 4 & 5: Hypercalcified Porifera, Paleozoic Stromatoporoidea & Archaeocyatha, liii + 1223 p., 665 figs., 2015, available here. ISBN 978-0-9903621-2-8.
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