1 May 2000 A VARIED MIDDLE ORDOVICIAN SPONGE SPICULE ASSEMBLAGE FROM WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND
XI-GUANG ZHANG, BRIAN R. PRATT
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Abstract

Abundant and morphologically fairly diverse siliceous sponge spicules of Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician) age were collected from the Table Cove Formation of Port au Port Peninsula, western Newfoundland. Without co-occurrence of appropriate sponge body fossils, it is difficult to refer these disarticulated sponge spicules to existing or to new taxa. However, representatives of demosponges and hexactinellids are recognized. While marked differences are noted between older and younger lithistid dendroclones, for example, spicule form in these Middle Ordovician specimens is similar overall to previously known assemblages of various ages, demonstrating the morphologically conservative nature of the spicular skeleton.

XI-GUANG ZHANG and BRIAN R. PRATT "A VARIED MIDDLE ORDOVICIAN SPONGE SPICULE ASSEMBLAGE FROM WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND," Journal of Paleontology 74(3), 386-393, (1 May 2000). https://doi.org/10.1666/0022-3360(2000)074<0386:AVMOSS>2.0.CO;2
Accepted: 1 November 1999; Published: 1 May 2000
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