Coeloptychium Explained

Coeloptychium is an extinct genus of lychniscosidan hexasterophoran sea sponge which has often been used as an index fossil.^[1] Its remains have been found in Cretaceous sediments in Germany, Belgium, France and the UK.^[2] Coeloptyhcium is best preserved in Campanian sediments in Germany. The type species, C. agaricoides, was named in 1826.

Species

• Coeloptychium agaricoides Goldfuss, 1826
• Coeloptychium deciminum Roemer, 1841
• Coeloptychium incisum Roemer, 1841
• Coeloptychium princeps Roemer, 1861
• Coeloptychium rude Zittel, 1876
• Coeloptychium seebachi Zittel, 1876
• Coeloptychium subagaricoides Sinov, 1871
• Coeloptychium sulciferum Roemer, 1841

Notes and References

1. R. M. Finks, R. E. H. Reid, and J. K. Rigby. 2004. Porifera (Demospongea, Hexactinellida, Heteractinida, Calcarea). Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part E, Revised E(3):1-872 [W. Kiessling/W. Kiessling/W. Kiessling]
2. A. Schrammen. 1912. Die Kieselspongien der oberen Kreide von Nordwestdeutschland, Teil 2 Triaxonia (Hexactinellida) [Upper Cretaceous sponges from north-western Germany, part 2 Triaxonia (Hexactinellida)]. Palaeontographica, Supplement 5:176-385 [W. Kiessling/U. Merkel/U. Merkel]