New articulated protospongiid sponges from the early Cambrian Chengjiang biota

Chen, Ailin; Müller, W.; Hou, Xianguang; Xiao, Shuhai

doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2014.11.006

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…To date, the accurate phylogenetic position of Saetaspongia is unclear. It is an enigmatic genus that so far cannot be definitely assigned to any class-level crown group (Steiner et al, 1993; Chen et al, 2015; Botting and Peel, 2016). Because a competing scenario that involves the diagnostic features of this genus has emerged, the interpretations of Saetaspongia have fallen into two distinct schools: one based on the presence of plumose arrays (Steiner et al, 1993; Botting and Peel, 2016), and the other based on the (possible) presence of hexactines (Rigby and Hou, 1995; Yang and Zhao, 2000; Zhao et al, 2006; Yang et al, 2010; Hou et al, 2017; Wang et al, 2017).…”

Section: Systematic Paleontologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Finks and Rigby (2004), S . densa was classified as a reticulosan and even interpreted as a protospongiid (Chen et al, 2015). Actually, hexactine spicules have been corroborated to be present in many disparate groups of early sponges (Botting and Zhang, 2013; Botting et al, 2013; Botting and Muir, 2018), and the presence of hexactines is itself not restricted to hexactinellids (Botting et al, 2013; Botting and Muir, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date, there are different viewpoints on the taxonomic position of Saetaspongia (Wu, 2004; Chen et al, 2015; Botting and Peel, 2016). Different specialists studying relevant specimens follow different classification schemes: one based on the plumose architecture (Steiner et al, 1993; Botting and Peel, 2016), and the other based on the (possible) presence of hexactinellid-like spicules (Rigby and Hou, 1995; Yang and Zhao, 2000; Zhao et al, 2006; Yang et al, 2010; Hou et al, 2017; Wang et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Saetaspongia sponges from the Cambrian (Stage 4) Balang Formation of Guizhou, China

et al. 2021

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Saetaspongia so far cannot be confidently assigned to any class-level crown group. Clarifying its phylogenetic position requires new information provided by more detailed studies of previously described and/or new material. Some sponge fossils with the typical skeletal architecture of Saetaspongia have recently been recognized in the Cambrian (Stage 4) Balang Biota of Guizhou, China, including S. jianhensis new species and S. cf. S. densa. The new taxon is characterized by the following features: spicules are fine monaxons and are inclined to be loosely to densely arranged into plumose arrays; skeleton is composed primarily of one major plumose bundle, with an uncertain number (perhaps two) of small plumose arrays; and primary skeleton is occasionally interspersed with some irregularly oriented individual spicules. An additional specimen consisting of large monaxons, with plumose structures and overlying irregular coarse monaxons, closely fits the description and illustrations of previously described S. cf. S. densa. By combining information from previous studies and the present research, fossil evidence indicates that the plumose architecture is a critical feature diagnostic of Saetaspongia and that there are no hexactine-based spicules in this genus. The new material from the Balang Biota further supports the notion that Saetaspongia has a protomonaxonid rather than a hexactinellid affinity. Fossil evidence suggests that Saetaspongia had a wide biogeographic distribution during the early Cambrian and the stratigraphic distribution of this genus extends up to Stage 4. UUID: http://zoobank.org/e9ca5e4a-134c-4daa-9266-19085e32614f.

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