Kiwetinokia
Kiwetinokia is a middle Cambrian genus belonging to the Protospongiidae family. Kiwetinokia fossils include clusters of scattered spicules occurring on bedding planes of shaly limestone[1]. It is characterized by the presence of two or more spicules twisted around one another, a primitive trait which may indicate that Kiwetinokia is a stem group taxon[2].
Structure
| Kiwetinokia | |
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| Family: | Protospongiidae
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| Genus: | †Kiwetinokia C. D. Walcott 1920
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Kiwetinokia consists of long, slender spicular rods associated with stauracts and triradiate, Y-shaped spicules[3]. In K. spiralis, the spicules twist around one another in groups of two or more spicules to form a rope-like structure[1]. In K. utahensis, spicules are interwoven with a net composed of roughly aligned, irregularly sized stauracts[1]. In some specimens, multiple groups of twisted spicules are fused together[2]. No distinct pattern is observable in the arrangement of the spicules, and the shape of the sponge itself is not known.[1].
Distribution
- Tontal Range, De Los Ratones Gulch
- Chica de Zonda Range, Zonda Gulch
- San Isidro, San Isidro Gulch
- San Isidro, Agua de la Cruz Gulch
- Cabitza Limestone Formation
- Puerto Blanco Formation, Cerro Clemente
- Marjum Formation, Utah
- Western Wheeler Amphitheater, Utah
Ecology
Kiwetinokia appear to be stationary epifaunal suspension feeders[8]. They are found in shallow subtidal, offshore, and reef environments[8]. They demonstrate a close ecological association with the reef-forming Archaeocyatha, making them one of the first North American sponges to have lived in a reef habitat[2].
Included Taxa
The genus Kiwetinokia includes the following species:
- K. utahensis (Walcott, 1920)
- K. spiralis (Walcott, 1920)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Rigby, Keith J. (1978). "Porifera of the Middle Cambrian Wheeler Shale, from the Wheeler Amphitheater, House Range, in Western Utah". Journal of Paleontology. 52: 1325–1345.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 McMenamin, Mark A.S. (2008). "Early Cambrian sponge spicules from the Cerro Clemente and Cerro Rajón, Sonora, México". Geologica Actica. 6: 363–367. doi:10.1344/105.000000263.
- ↑ Rigby, Keith J. (1969). "A New Middle Cambrian Hexactinellid Sponge from Western Utah". Journal of Paleontology. 43: 125–128.
- ↑ Beresi, M.S.; Rigby, K.J. (1994). "Sponges and chancelloriids from the Cambrian of western Argentina". Journal of Paleontology. 68: 208–217.
- ↑ Mostler, H. (1985). "New heteractinid sponges (Calcispongia) from Lower and Middle Cambrian of SW Sardinia". Berichte des Naturwissenschaftlich-Medizinischen Vereins Innsbruck. 72: 7–32.
- ↑ Debrenne, F.; Gandin, A.; Rowland, S.M. (1989). "Lower Cambrian bioconstructions in Northwestern Mexico (Sonora). Depositional setting, paleoecology and systematics of Archaeocyaths". Géobios. 22: 137–195.
- ↑ Rigby, J.K. (1983). "Sponges of the Middle Cambrian Marjum Limestone from the House Range and Drum Mountains of Western Millard County, Utah". Journal of Paleontology. 57: 240–270.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Kiwetinokia" (webpage). Fossilworks. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
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