Back
Hystrichosphaeridium hillii

Hystrichosphaeridium? hillii (Merrill, 1895) Sarjeant, 1964

Originally Geodia, subsequently Hystrichosphaeridium, thirdly (and now) Hystrichosphaeridium?.
Stover and Evitt, 1978, considered this to be a problematical species of Hystrichosphaeridium.
Davey and Williams, 1966, questionably included this species in Hystrichosphaeridium.
Holotype: Merrill, 1895, text-fig.21
Age: Early Cretaceous

Original description (Merrill, 1895)
Spicule perfect. Body elongated and smooth between bases of spines. Spines few and irregularly placed, spreading at base, tapering rapidly at first, then more slowly to the top from which extend three to five short barbs. The hollow tube may be seen the whole length of the spine. Size: 0.0938 mm by 0.0884 mm.; length of spine, 0.0307 mm. This species is one of transcendent beauty. Nothing similar has been found figured. It perhaps belongs to some genus allied to Geodia, and I propose the specific name Hilli.
Feedback/Report bug