A new Silurian Astylospongid sponge from Baillie-Hamilton Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Authors: Rigby, J. Keith, Lenz, Alfred C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1978
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Arctic; Canadian Arctic Archipelago; Canada; Fanning; Baillie; Cape Phillips; Baillie-Hamilton Island; Arctic Archipelago
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e78-013; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e78-013

The new sponge, Astylospongiella megale, is described from rocks of the Ludlovian Neodiversograptus nilssoni Zone of the Cape Phillips Formation from southern Baillie-Hamilton Island, Arctic Canada. The genus is included in Astylospongiidae because its skeletal net is composed of sphaeroclones, which in this species, are of relatively uniform size throughout the sponge. The new sponge also has irregularly placed radiating canals which are subparallel to the upper surface, and which are cross-connected by upward fanning canals that are approximately normal to the sponge surface and the radiating canals.