First fossil sponge from Antarctica and its palaeobiogeographical significance
Laocoetis piserai n. sp. (Hexactinellida, Porifera) from the mid-Cretaceous (i.e., Albian–Cenomanian) of James Ross Island is the first record of a fossil sponge from Antarctica. This new occurrence of a formerly widespread genus was restricted to relatively deep waters on the margins of an active v...
| Published in: | Journal of Paleontology |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
The Paleontological Society
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13027/ |
| Summary: | Laocoetis piserai n. sp. (Hexactinellida, Porifera) from the mid-Cretaceous (i.e., Albian–Cenomanian) of James Ross Island is the first record of a fossil sponge from Antarctica. This new occurrence of a formerly widespread genus was restricted to relatively deep waters on the margins of an active volcanic arc. Its occurrence in Antarctica is further evidence that the genus Laocoetis underwent a dramatic reduction in its geographic range through the Cenozoic. The only living species of the genus at the present day is Laocoetis perion from Madagascar. |
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