Texas Pennsylvanian Fossils

Sponges

The sponges {Phylum Porifera) are a group of primitive animals that have attained multicellular organization but lack tissues, as more highly advanced animal groups possess.  They are usually globular type structures that are attached at their base to the seafloor.  They have an internal skeleton of joined or isolated elements that are called spicules.  Most spicules are siliceous, but some are calcareous or made of organic spongin. 

Sponges are not uncommon in the Finis, usually as globular or stick shaped forms with a variety of surface textures.  Regispongia and Fissispongia are the most common genera found.

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Collections are from Mike DeBrock (MD), Josh Hanley (JH), Dr. Peter Holterhoff (PH), Mark McKinzie (MM), John McLeod (JM), Dr. Ben Neuman (BN), Bob Williams (BW), Sveta Earnest (SE), Rodney Wise (RW), and Jeremy Faulder (JF).  

All scales are shown in millimeters unless otherwise noted.

Images

Taxonomy/Stratigraphy/
Location/Collection

Images

Taxonomy/Stratigraphy/
Location/Collection

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Tetractinomorpha

Family: ?

Genus: Belemnospongia

Species: B. sp.

Finis Shale, Graham Formation

Lost Creek Dam, Jacksboro, TX

Collection: 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: 

Family: 

Genus: Coelocladia

Species: C. spinosa

Finis Shale, Graham Formation

Lost Creek Dam, Jacksboro, TX

Collection: JF

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Agelasida

Family: Fissispongiidae

Genus: Fissispongia

Species: F. jacksboroensis

Finis Shale, Graham Formation

Lost Creek Dam, Jacksboro, TX

Collection:  MM

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Agelasida

Family: Fissispongiidae

Genus: Fissispongia 

Species: F. spinosa

Finis Shale, Graham Formation

Lost Creek Dam, Jacksboro, TX

Collection:  MM

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Epipolasida

Family: Heliospongiidae

Genus: Heliospongia 

Species: H. excavata

Finis Shale, Graham Formation

Lost Creek Dam, Jacksboro, TX

Collection:  MM

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Subclass: Tetractinomorpha

Order: ?

Family: ?

Genus: Incrustospongia 

Species: I. meandrica

Finis Shale, Graham Formation

Lost Creek Dam, Jacksboro, TX

Collection: MM 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Agelasida

Family: Maeandrostildae

Genus: Maeandrostia

Species: M. kansasensis

Finis Shale, Graham Formation

Lost Creek Dam, Jacksboro, TX

Collection:  MM

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Heteractinida

Order: Octactinellida

Family: Wewokellidae 

Genus: Regispongia

Species: R. contorta

Finis Shale, Graham Formation

Lost Creek Dam, Jacksboro, TX

Collection:  JM, MM

Note:  Formerly known as Wewokella contorta