At more than 50 cm (20 inches) in height, the remarkable new species Cyathophycus balori is the largest known member of its genus Cyathophycus, and one of the largest sponges in the order Reticulosa.
“Cyathophycus is one of the most widespread Ordovician and Silurian sponge genera, being recorded from across the Iapetus region, and tentatively also from Bohemia,” said senior author Dr. Eamon Doyle, a geologist for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, and colleagues.
“The genus was widely distributed in offshore marine environments from the Middle Ordovician to Middle Devonian, but has not previously been recorded in later rocks.”
Named Cyathophycus balori, the newly-identified species lived during the Carboniferous period, some 315 million years ago.
When it was alive the vase-shaped sponge featured a circular opening at the top surrounded by a ring of eyelash-like structures.
It would have resembled modern-day Venus’ flower basket sponges, which are found the Pacific Ocean and often feature on deep sea wildlife documentaries.
“This is an exceptionally large example of a type of fossil sponge that was previously only known from much older rocks elsewhere in the world,” Dr. Doyle said.
“It is the first record of this type of fossil sponge from Ireland and its excellent preservation is highly unusual.”
The specimens of Cyathophycus balori were collected from the Kilkee Cyclothem of the Namurian Central Clare Group of County Clare, Ireland.
“The sponge was originally composed of a rectangular meshwork of tiny spicules made of silica, held together by a thin organic membrane,” Dr. Doyle said.
“When they die, they usually fall apart quickly, and often only scattered remains of the spicules are preserved as fossils, so I was delighted to find these largely intact specimens.”
“The excellently preserved fossil dates back to a time when the Atlantic Ocean had not even started to form and what we now call County Clare was…
Read the full article here