Echmatocrinus

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Echmatocrinus
Temporal range: Burgess shale
File:Echmatocrinus Brachiatus.jpg
Echmatocrinus brachiatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: incertae sedis
Genus: Echmatocrinus
Species:
E. brachiatus
Binomial name
Echmatocrinus brachiatus
Sprinkle 1973

Echmatocrinus brachiatus is an extinct species of Cambrian animal which resembles a crinoid or an octocoral. Its exact taxonomy is still a subject of debate. It is known only from the Burgess Shale.[1] Around 20 specimens of Echmatocrinus are known; these comprise <0.02% of the community.[2][3]

The creature resembled an inverted cone, with a crown of seven to ten tentacles.[3] Each tentacle was covered with small extensions. The cone itself was covered with irregularly arranged mineralised plates,[1] whose texture recalls that of the Burgess Shale echinoderm Walcottidiscus. The organisms lived a solitary lifestyle, although juveniles are sometimes attached to (or budding from) adults.[1]

References

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Further reading

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Ausich, W. I. 1998a. Early phylogeny and subclass division of the Crinoidea (phylum Echinodermata). Journal of Paleontology 72 (3): 499–510.

Ausich, W. I. 1998b. Origin of the Crinoidea. In Echinoderms: San Francisco (R. Mooi & M. Telford, eds.) pp. 127–132. A. A. Balkema: Rotterdam.

Ausich, W. I. 1999. Origin of crinoids. In Echinoderm Research 1998 (M. D. Candia Carnevali & F. Bonasoro, eds.) pp. 237–242. A. A. Balkema: Rotterdam.

Sprinkle, J., & R. C. Moore. 1978. Echmatocrinea. In Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology pt. T. Echinodermata 2. Crinoidea (R. C. Moore & C. Teichert, eds.) vol. 2, pp. T405-T407. The Geological Society of America, Inc.: Boulder (Colorado), and The University of Kansas: Lawrence (Kansas). Lua error in Module:Taxonbar at line 165: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).