New and extraordinary Early Cambrian sponge spicule assemblage from China

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 1994 New and extraordinary Early Cambrian sponge spicule assemblage from China Xi-guang Zhang; Xi-guang Zhang 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W0, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Brian R. Pratt Brian R. Pratt 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W0, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1994) 22 (1): 43–46. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0043:NAEECS>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Xi-guang Zhang, Brian R. Pratt; New and extraordinary Early Cambrian sponge spicule assemblage from China. Geology 1994;; 22 (1): 43–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0043:NAEECS>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The fossil record of siliceous sponges, compared with that of other skeleton- secreting Metazoa, is poorly known, based as it is on disarticulated spicules and sporadically preserved body fossils. Abundant spicules recovered from Lower Cambrian strata in Shaanxi, China, essentially double the known morphological diversity of siliceous sponges for that interval of geologic time. These fossils, along with a comparable coeval fauna from South Australia, have a remarkably modern aspect, thereby demonstrating that the principal siliceous sponge groups and styles of body architecture were established quickly in the earliest Phanerozoic as part of the Cambrian "explosion" and that they inhabited a variety of low-energy, relatively deep water settings. The similarity of spicule shape and variation to that of younger assemblages reflects a conservative architecture for the siliceous sponges. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.