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Silurian sponges and some associated fossils from the Heceta Limestone, Prince of Wales Island, southeastern Alaska

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

J. Keith Rigby ,
David M. Rohr ,
Robert B. Blodgett  and
Brooks B. Britt
J. Keith Rigby
Affiliation:
1S-389 ESC, Department of Geology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602-4606, and
David M. Rohr
Affiliation:
2Department of Earth and Physical Sciences, Sul Ross State University, 400 N. Harrison St., Alpine, Texas 79832,
Robert B. Blodgett
Affiliation:
3U.S. Geological Survey—Contractor, 4200 University Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508,
Brooks B. Britt
Affiliation:
1S-389 ESC, Department of Geology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602-4606, and
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Abstract

A small faunule of hypercalcified agelasiid demosponges has been recovered from outcrops of the Silurian Heceta Formation on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. Included are abundant Girtyocoeliana epiporata (Rigby and Potter, 1986), of the Girtyocoeliidae Finks and Rigby, 2004; fragments of Alaskaspongiella laminosa n. gen. and sp., Polyplacospongia nodosa n. gen. and sp., and Monolaminospongia gigantia n. gen. and sp., of the Auriculospongiidae Termier and Termier, 1977, and Cladospongia alaskensis n. gen. and sp., Virgulaspongia uniforma n. gen. and sp., and Stipespongia laminata n. gen. and sp. of the Preperonidellidae Finks and Rigby, 2004. Also included are a few fossils of uncertain taxonomic placement, including Turbospongia biperforata n. gen. and sp., along with a small, chambered, tubular fragment and several porous tubular stems that may be additional poriferans. Some isolated octactine-based heteractinid spicules were also recovered from the etched residues.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 82 , Issue 1 , January 2008 , pp. 91 - 101
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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