Takakkawia Explained

Takakkawia is a genus of sponge in the order Protomonaxonida and the family Takakkawiidae. It is known from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale that reached around 4 cm in height.^[1] Its structure comprises four columns of multi-rayed, organic spicules (perhaps originally calcareous or siliceous) that align to form flanges.^[2] The spicules form blade-like structures, ornamented with concentric rings.

It was first described in 1920 by Charles Doolittle Walcott.^[3] Takakkaw Falls which mark the start of the trail to Fossil Ridge.^[4] 1377 specimens of Takakkawia are known from the Greater Phyllopod bed, where they comprise 2.62% of the community.^[5]

External links

• Web site: 2011. Takakkawia lineata. Burgess Shale Fossil Gallery. Virtual Museum of Canada. https://web.archive.org/20201112025257/http://burgess-shale.rom.on.ca/en/fossil-gallery/view-species.php?id=120. 2020-11-12. dead.
• Image of fossil from the Peabody Museum of Natural History
• Takakkawia at fossilworks

Notes and References

1. 737–748. November–December 2007. 10.1016/j.geobios.2007.02.006. J.. 40. 'Cambrian' demosponges in the Ordovician of Morocco: Insights into the early evolutionary history of sponges. Geobios. Botting. 6 . 2007Geobi..40..737B.
2. Botting . J. P. . Jin . J. . 10.1139/e2012-046 . Reassessment of the problematic Burgess Shale spongeTakakkawia lineataWalcott, 1920 . Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences . 49 . 9 . 1087 . 2012 . 2012CaJES..49.1087B .
3. Walcott . C. D. . 1920 . Cambrian geology and paleontology IV:6—Middle Cambrian Spongiae . . 67 . 261–364 .
4. A compendium of fossil marine animal genera . 2002 . J.J. Sepkoski, D. Jablonski & M. Foote.
5. Caron . Jean-Bernard. Jackson . Donald A.. Taphonomy of the Greater Phyllopod Bed community, Burgess Shale. PALAIOS . 21 . 5 . 451–65. October 2006. 10.2110/palo.2003.P05-070R. 20173022. 2006Palai..21..451C . 53646959 .