Polygoniella
| Polygoniella Temporal range: Middle Cambrian,
| |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Hexactinellida |
| Genus: | †Polygoniella Del Mouro et al., 2024 |
| Type species | |
| †Polygoniella turrelli Del Mouro et al., 2024
| |
Polygoniella is an extinct genus of stem-hexactinellid sponge.[1] It is known from the Middle Cambrian Marjum Formation of Utah, United States, and the type species is P. turrelli.[2]
Discovery and naming
Polygoniella turrelli, holotype MCZ.IP.199049, is known from around 190 specimens discovered in a quarry opened at the Gray Marjum site in 2022. A further ten specimens were then documented prior to 2024 and several specimens previously assigned to Diagoniella by Rigby (1983)[3] may have also belonged to Polygoniella. The remains of Polygoniella have also been confused with Valospongia.[2]
Del Mouro et al. (2024) named and described Polygoniella turrelli.[2]
Description
It was an early member of the crown group of Hexactinellida,[1] and its appearance showed that their modern body plan existed since at least the Drumian.[2]
References
- ^ a b Richards, Jared C.; Ortega-Hernández, Javier (2026). "Predator-prey scaling laws support a suspension-feeding lifestyle in Cambrian luolishaniid lobopodians". bioRxiv 10.1101/2025.11.05.686786.
- ^ a b c d Del Mouro, Lucas; Lerosey-Aubril, Rudy; Botting, Joseph; Coleman, Robert; Gaines, Robert R.; Skabelund, Jacob; Weaver, James C.; Ortega-Hernández, Javier (2024). "A new sponge from the Marjum Formation of Utah documents the Cambrian origin of the hexactinellid body plan". Royal Society Open Science. 11 (9) 231845. Bibcode:2024RSOS...1131845D. doi:10.1098/rsos.231845. ISSN 2054-5703. PMC 11407857. PMID 39295920.
- ^ Rigby, J. K. (1983). Sponges of the middle Cambrian Marjum limestone from the House Range and Drum Mountains of western Millard County, Utah. J. Paleontol. 57 , 240–270.