Goniocladia, Etheridge, 1876

Ernst, Andrej, 2016, Bryozoan fauna from the Permian (Artinskian-Kungurian) Zhongba Formation of southwestern Tibet, Palaeontologia Electronica (1946) 51 (9), pp. 1-59 : 14

Genus GONIOCLADIA Etheridge, 1876

Type species. Carinella cellulifera Etheridge, 1873 . Lower Carboniferous ; Carluke ( Scotland) .

Diagnosis. Reticulate colonies with polygonal fenestrules. Branches bifoliate, joined by anastomoses or rarely by dissepiments. Autozooecia in two or more rows on each side of the mesotheca. Apertures with more or less developed lunaria and apertural styles. Thin mesotheca protruding as ridge on the circular reverse side and as sharp keel on peaked obverse side. Median rods in mesotheca usually lacking, in few species present. Thin walled autozooecia usually separated by vesicular skeleton.

Remarks. Goniocladia Etheridge, 1876 differs from Ramipora Toula, 1875 in having reticulate colony shape instead of pinnate one (consisting of main branch with diverging lateral branches).

Occurrence. Carboniferous–Permian; worldwide.