| Sphaerocoeliidae Temporal range: Permian–Cenomanian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Calcarea |
| Order: | †Sphaerocoeliida Vacelet, 1979 |
| Family: | †Sphaerocoeliidae Steinmann, 1882 |
| Genera | |
|
see text. | |
Sphaerocoeliidae is an extinct family of calcareous sponges, the only family in the monotypic order Sphaerocoeliida. Sphaerocoeliids are one of several unrelated sponge groups described as "sphinctozoans", with a distinctive multi-chambered body structure. Sphaerocoeliids persisted from the Permian to the Cenomanian stage of the Cretaceous, a longer period of time than most other "sphinctozoans". Sphaerocoeliids make up the majority of calcareous "sphinctozoans", as well as a large portion of post-Triassic "sphinctozoan" diversity. "Sphinctozoans" and the similar "inozoans" were historically grouped together in the polyphyletic order Pharetronida.
In general form, sphaerocoeliids are cylindrical, as a chain of dome-shaped chambers stacked up on each other. Each layer is pierced by a central osculum (outflow vent), which has the form of a simple hole. Sphaerocoeliids are hypermineralized, with a skeleton of loose calcareous spicules cemented together in calcite walls.
Genera
- †Barroisia Munier-Chalmas, 1882
- †Sphaerocoelia Steinmann, 1882
- †Sphinctonella Hurcewicz, 1975
- †Thalamopora Roemer, 1840
- †Tremacystia Hinde, 1884
References
- ^ Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part E, Revised. Porifera, Volume 3: Classes Demospongea, Hexactinellida, Heteractinida & Calcarea, xxxi + 872 p., 506 fig., 1 table, 2004, available here. ISBN 0-8137-3131-3.
- ^ Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part E, Revised. Porifera, Volumes 4 & 5: Hypercalcified Porifera, Paleozoic Stromatoporoidea & Archaeocyatha, liii + 1223 p., 665 figs., 2015, available here. ISBN 978-0-9903621-2-8.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Sphaerocoeliidae | |
| Sphaerocoeliida | |