New Archaeoscyphia (Porifera) from the Ordovician of Anticosti Island, Quebec

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LlOLOGY

FIELDIANA: GEOLOGY

A Continuation of the

GEOLOGICAL SERIES

of
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

VOLUME 33

LIBRARY Of THu

IAK4 1982

FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

ERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO, U.S.A.

R8ANA<HAMPA!rtN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. New Archaeoscyphia (Porifera) from the Ordovician of Anticosti Island,
Quebec. By J. Keith Rigby and Matthew H. Nitecki 1

2. Osteology, Function, and Evolution of the Trematopsid (Amphibia:
Labyrinthodontia) Nasal Region. By John R. Bolt 11

3. The Structure and Evolution of Teeth in Lungfishes. By Robert H. Denison. 31

4. The External Morphology of the Inner Ear in Bats from the Phosphorites

of Quercy. By Walter Segall 59

5. The Functional Significance of the Hypocercal Tail and Lateral Fin Fold of
Anaspid Ostracoderms. By James A. Hopson 83

6. Paleozoic Peracarida of North America. By Frederick R. Schram 95

7. Pyritic Cone-In-Cone Concretions. By Bertram G. Woodland 125

8. The Mammalian Fauna of Warwasi Rock Shelter, West-central Iran. By
Priscilla F. Turnbull 141

9. Phylogeny of the Chelydrid Turtles: A Study of Shared Derived Characters

in the Skull. By Eugene S. Gaffney 157

10. Time Factors of Differentially Preserved Wood in Two Calcitic Concretions
in Pennsylvanian Black Shale from Indiana. By Bertram G. Woodland and
Catherine K. Richardson 179

11. Geochronology, Stratigraphy, and Typology. By John Andrew Wilson 193

12. Ptycholepis marshi Newberry, a Chondrostean Fish from the Newark
Group of Eastern North America. By Bobb Schaeffer, David H. Dunkle,

and Nicholas G. McDonald 205

13. A New Species of Globidens from South Dakota, and a Review of Globi-
dentine Mosasaurs. By Dale A. Russell 235

14. Taphonomy of Eocene Fish from Fossil Basin, Wyoming. By Paul O.
McGrew 257

15. Permo-Carboniferous Fresh Water Burrows. By Everett C. Olson and
Kathryn Bolles 271

16. Ziphodont Crocodiles: Pristichampsus vorax (Troxell), New Combination,
from the Eocene of North America. By Warm Langston, Jr 291

1 7. Reconstruction and Interpretation of Brittsia problematica D. White (Fern,
Pennsylvanian). By Hermann W. Pfefferkorn 315

18. The Brain of Mesonyx, a Middle Eocene Mesonychid Condylarth. By L.
Radinsky 323

19. Functional Morphological Models: Evolutionary and Nonevolutionary. By
Robert E. DeMar 339

20. Paracanthopterygian and Acanthopterygian Fishes from the Upper
Cretaceous of Kansas. By David Bardack 355

21. Megapleuron zangerli, a New Dipnoan from the Pennsylvanian, Illinois.

By Hans-Peter Schultze 375

22. A Primitive Pyrothere (Mammalia, Notoungulata) from the Early Tertiary

of Northwestern Venezuela. By Bryan Patterson 397

23. The Stature and Weight of Sterkfontein 14, a Gracile Australopithecine
from Transvaal, as Determined from the Innominate Bone. By Charles A.
Reed and Dean Falk 423

24. Tooth Histology and Ultrastructure of a Paleozoic Shark, Edestus
heinrichii. By Katherine Taylor and Thomas Adamec 441

25. New Fossil Polychaete from Essex, Illinois. By Ida Thompson and Ralph

G. Johnson 471

26. New Agnathous Fishes from the Pennsylvanian of Illinois. By David
Bardack and Eugene S. Richardson, Jr 489

27. Sedimentary Processes in Ray onnoceras Burial. By James H. Quinn 511

28. New Information on the Evolution of the Bradyodont Chondrichthyes.

By Richard Lund 521

29. Sedimentary Structures from the Carbondale Formation (Middle Pennsyl-
vanian) of Northern Illinois. By Charles W. Shabica 541

30. The Mammalian Faunas of the Washakie Formation, Eocene Age, of
Southern Wyoming. Part I. Introduction: The Geology, History, and
Setting. By William D. Turnbull 569

31. Introduction and Index. By Eugene S. Richardson, Jr., and William D.
Turnbull 603

Errata 621

FIELDIANA - o <

Geology

Published by Field Museum of Natural History

Volume 33, No. 1 November 27, 1973

This volume is dedicated to Dr. Rainer Zangerl

New Archaeoscyphia (Porifera) from the
Ordovician of Anticosti Island, Quebec

J. Keith Rigby

Professor of geology
Brigham Young University

AND

Matthew H. Nitecki

Associate Curator

Field Museum Of Natural History

ABSTRACT

A new branched sponge, Archaeoscyphia boltoni, is described from the lower
Ellis Bay Formation in Anticosti Island, Quebec. The position of the species and
genus within the family Anthaspidellidae is briefly discussed.

INTRODUCTION

Until recently the principal stratigraphic and paleontologic work
on Anticosti Island was that of Twenhofel (1928). He (1928, p. 103)
described specimens of Hindia cf . fibrosa (Roemer) from the Ellis Bay
and earlier Ordovician formations from Anticosti Island. These are
the only previously reported sponges from the Ellis Bay sequence on
the island. Rauffella cf. filosa Ulrich was reported as a sponge from
Ellis Bay rocks by Twenhofel (1928, p. 104) but this form is now-
considered to be a trace fossil, probably a burrow-filling, and not a
sponge.

More recent stratigraphic and paleontologic studies by Bolton

(1961, 1965, 1970a, b, 1972) and others have added detail to earlier

ivestigations. In addition, Bolton collected a new sponge as part of

xtensive systematic paleontologic studies on the island. This paper

? a description of the sponge specimens he collected from the Salmon

ibrary of Congress Catalog Card Number: 73-891 68 j^

ublication 1174 1 hA K& 7

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RIGBY & NITECKI: ARCHAEOSCYPHIA 3

River area in the northeastern part of the island. He kindly loaned
us the specimens for study.

SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION

Archaeoscyphia boltoni new species. Figures 2-6.

Diagnosis. — Weakly annulated to tuberose, branched, archaeo-
scyphiaid sponge in which the complex rods of the skeletal system
flare upward and outward away from a zone of pinnation which is
at or near the spongocoel surface. Spicule structure somewhat more
complex than most anthaspidellids, with moderately irregular com-
plex rods and with irregularity in spicule orientation and placement.

Description. — The sponge is a moderately thick-walled branching
form, with a simple open spongocoel. The holotype is approximately
19 cm. high and with two branches, the major one approximately 8
cm. long and tapering from a maximum diameter of nearly 7 cm. to
6 cm. at the upper broken end. The smaller branch is only 3 cm. long
and 4.5 cm. in diameter. Four additional fragmentary specimens
are available.

Spongocoel in the top of the larger branch of the holotype is 35
mm. in diameter and distinctly circular and is continuous through
the sponge. In the lower part of the branch it is ovoid. The
spongocoel in the smaller branch is approximately 18 mm. in diam-
eter. Sponge walls in the larger branch are 14-25 mm. thick at a
maximum and are 11 to 15 mm. thick in the smaller branch.

The exterior of the sponge is weakly annular to tuberose, with
irregular subhorizontal ridges up to 15 mm. high rising above the
generally tubular branch. Weak annuli are spaced 3-5 cm. apart
and are most pronounced on the larger branch, although also evident
on the lower part of the sponge. They are even more pronounced
on the fragmentary specimens.

Two distinct sizes of canals are apparent in both vertical and
horizontal sections. The larger of these are subhorizontal, radially
arranged, to slightly curved. They occasionally bifurcate at about
mid-wall thickness, producing two canals of about the same diameter
as the single continuation. In vertical sections canals are seen to
bificurate both toward the spongocoel and toward the exterior.
Most canals appear cylindrical with relatively uniform diameters
throughout their total extent through the wall. There are minor
variations and constrictions that amount to about one-fifth the
canal diameter.

FIELDIANA: GEOLOGY, VOLUME 33

Fig. 2. Holotype of Archaeoscyphia boltoni n. sp. as seen from the side.
32371, approximately X 0.62.

GSC

The canals occur in vertical rows, spaced 5 to 6 openings per
centimeter in a row and with 5 or 6 rows per centimeter, as measured
in the transverse or horizontal section, around the dermal and
gastral surface. Spacing is maintained approximately equally in
the radiating pattern by both bifurcation and insertion of new canals.

RIGBY & NITECKI: ARCHAEOSCYPHIA

Fig. 3. Archaeoscyphia boltoni n. sp. showing the spongocoel surface and a
section through the wall. Curved canals pierce the wall and occur in stacked ver-
tical series as shown by the aligned openings in the spongocoel wall. GSC 32372,
X 1.

Although most of the larger canals are moderately straight, there
is a general tendency for them to gently bend downward toward the
gastral surface. This is most obvious in the fragmentary paratypes.

The smaller canals are parallel to the complex skeletal rods. In
vertical section they are long linear features that are one of the dis-
tinctive characteristics of the sponge. They are somewhat irregular
along their length and are outlined by sub-parallel skeletal rods. In
vertical section they appear to be 0.25-0.35 mm. across and show
constrictions about one-quarter the width of the canal. In the hori-
zontal section these smaller canals are much less well defined, al-
though they appear as somewhat irregularly placed openings, now
mainly matrix-filled. They appear to be moderately uniformly
spaced from 0.2-0.4 mm. apart, separated by one or more skeletal
complexes. They range in outline from distinctly elliptical or nearly
circular to triangular where they rise between spokes of the skeletal
structure. The spacing is decidedly less regular than the simple
canals in most genera of the Anthaspidellidae.

Dominant elements of the skeletal structure are trabs, small
complex rods produced by raytip union of spicules. The trabs are
arranged nearly parallel to one another in an upward flaring position,
branching from a general surface of pinnation near the spongocoel
wall. Outer trabs swing away from nearly parallel to the spongocoel

Fig. 4. Transverse cross-section through upper part of holotype of Archaeoscy-
phia boltoni showing canal and skeletal development. Radial canals are mainly
light colored where filled with crystalline calcite, or dark gray where matrix-filled.
Circular spongocoel is filled with bioclastic debris. GSC 32371, X 2.5.

Fig. 5. Nearly vertical section through upper part of one branch of holotype
of Archaeoscyphia boltoni showing spongocoel filled with bioclastic material and
thick walls pierced by radiating stacked canals. Light rays along the right are
somewhat irregular trabs. GSC 32371, X 2.4.

8 FIELDIANA: GEOLOGY, VOLUME 33

wall in the lower part to approximately 45 degrees from the gastral
surface at their upper terminations. Individual trabs are quite
variable in cross-section, ranging from strongly triangular to circular
to star-shaped. Thickness or diameter of the trabs range from 0.12-

Fig. 6. Photomicrographs of skeletal structure of Archaeoscyphia boltoni n.
sp., holotype. A. Transverse section showing irregular outline of trabs (light gray)
connected by spicule axes. GSC 32371, X 10. B. Vertical section showing sub-
parallel trabs connected by spicule axes, particularly on the left. GSC 32371,
X 10.

0.40 mm., with considerable variation along individual rods de-
pendent upon the nature of spicule articulation. Most of the trabs
are now composed of granular crystalline calcite with details pre-
served only along some rod margins where darker matrix outlines
the spicular elements.

Individual spicules are obscured in the generally calcareous
preservation. Some dendroclones are preserved in part of the speci-
men and seem to have the general orientation and structural pattern
of the Anthaspidellidae, particularly like the somewhat confused
structure of Archaeoscyphia. Shafts of spicules are 0.24-0.28 mm.
long and have a diameter of 0.03-0.04 mm. where thinnest. The
shafts branch into two clads of 0.12-0.14 mm. long and 0.03-0.04
mm. in diameter. The fine articulation between spicules is lost in the
granular preservation. In only a few areas are spicules preserved in
enough detail that individual elements can be recognized.

RIGBY & NITECKI: ARCHAEOSCYPHIA 9

Discussion. — The branching form of this species differentiates it
from most early Paleozoic sponges. Lissocoelia Bassler (1941), a
branching sponge from Nevada, is considerably smaller and has a
much finer textured skeletal net. Ozarkocoelia Cullison, 1944, is also
branching but its spicular character is different. The skeletal struc-
ture of Archaeoscyphia minganensis (Billings, 1859) and of A.
annulata Cullison, 1944, is similar but both are unbranched and in
addition are regularly and distinctly annulate in contrast to the
irregular pattern of A. boltoni n. sp.

The irregular skeletal structure of Archaeoscyphia boltoni n. sp. is
somewhat reminiscent of that in other genera currently included in
the Anthaspidellidae such as Allosaccus Raymond and Okulitch,
1940, Lissocoelia Bassler, (1927, 1941), and Streptosolen Ulrich and
Everett, 1889. It contrasts strongly with the much more regular and
consistent structure typified by such genera as Nevadocoelia Bassler
(1927, 1941), Calycocoelia Bassler, (1927, 1941), Aulocopina Billings,
1874, Aulocopium, and Phacellopegma Gerth, 1927. Review of the
Anthaspidellidae currently underway by the senior author suggests
that the family should be subdivided, based upon this difference in
skeletal development.

Material, stratigraphic position, and locality. — Holotype and four
incomplete specimens at Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa,
Ontario. Member 2, Hesperorthis laurentia zone (Bolton, 1971), of
the Ellis Bay Formation. Salmon River. South Bank. Anticosti
Island, Quebec.

Holotype: GSC 32371, 12,300 ft. upstream from mouth of river;
specimens GSC 32372—32374, 12,000-14,215 ft. upstream from
mouth of river.

REFERENCES

Bassler, R. S.

1927. A new Early Ordovician sponge fauna. Jour. Wash. Acad. Sci., 17, no.

14, pp. 390-394.
1941. The Nevada Early Ordovician (Pogonip) sponge fauna. Proc. U. S.

Nat. Mus., 91, no. 3126, pp. 91-102, pis. 19-24.

Billings, E.

1859. Fossils of the Calciferous Sandrock, including some of the deposit of

white limestone at Mingan, supposed to belong to the formation. Canad.

Nat., Geol. Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Montreal, 4, art. 27, pp. 345-346.
1874. On some new or little known fossils from the Silurian and Devonian

rocks of Ontario. Canad. Nat., ser. 2, 7, pp. 230-240, text-figs. 1-2.

10 FIELDIANA: GEOLOGY, VOLUME 33

Bolton, T. E.

1961. Ordovician and Silurian formations of Anticosti Island, Quebec. Geol.

Surv. Canad., Paper 61-26.
1965. Stratigraphy of Anticosti Island. In Report of Activities: Field, 1964.

Geol. Surv. Canad., Paper 65-1, pp. 113-114.
1970a. Silurian-Ordovician macrobiostratigraphy of Anticosti Island, Quebec

(12E, F). In Report of Activities, Part A; April to October, 1969. Geol.

Surv. Canad., Paper 70-1, Pt. A, pp. 107-108.
1970b. Subsurface Ordovician fauna, Anticosti Island, Quebec. Geol. Surv.

Canad., Bull. 187, pp. 31-41.

1972. Geological map and notes on the Ordovician and Silurian litho- and
biostratigraphy, Anticosti Island, Quebec. Geol. Surv. Canad., Paper 71-19,
44 pp., 12 pis., 16 text-figs.

Cullison, J. S.

1944. The stratigraphy of some Lower Ordovician formations of the Ozarks
uplift. Univ. Missouri School Mines Metal, Tech. Ser. Bull. 15, no. 2, 112
pp., 35 pis.

Gerth, H.

1927. Die Spongien aus dem Perm von Timor, Jaarb. Mijnw. Ned.-Oost-
Indie, for 1926, pp. 99-132, 6 pis.

Raymond, P. E. and V. J. Okulitch

1940. Some Chazyan Sponges. Harvard Coll., Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 86,
no. 5, pp. 197-214, 7 pis., 3 text-figs.

TWENHOFEL, W. H.

1928. Geology of Anticosti Island. Geol. Surv. Canad. Mem. 154, 481 pp.,
60 pis.

Ulrich, E. O. and O. Everett

1889. In Miller, S. A., North American Geology and Paleontology for the use of
amateurs, students, and scientists, Cincinnati, Ohio, 664 pp., 1194 text-figs.