Microcionidae Carter, 1875

Łukowiak, Magdalena, Pisera, Andrzej & Stefanska, Tetiana, 2019, Uncovering the hidden diversity of Paleogene sponge fauna of the East European Platform through reassessment of the record of isolated spicules, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 64 (4), pp. 871-895 : 886

Family Microcionidae Carter, 1875 Microcionidae indet.

Fig. 6E, F, J, M .

Material.—Upper Eocene, south-central Ukraine.

Remarks. —The acanthostyles with massively sculptured heads ( Fig. 6E, F ), as well as other acanthostyles illustrated on the same figure ( Fig. 6J, M ), could be assigned to some of the microcionid genera. For instance, the former resemble the acanthostyles present in modern Clathria (Thalysias) zeai van Soest, 2017 (compare van Soest 2017: fig. 95b, e). Similar spicules also appear in Discorhabdella Dendy, 1924 compare Boury-Esnault et al. 1994: fig. 83a).

Figures

Fig. 6. Spicule morphotypes from south-central Ukraine; Russkie Tiŝki, Middle Eocene (A, H, O, Y, Z), Kiselevka, upper Eocene (B, C), Markovka, middle Eocene (D), Russkie Tiŝki, upper Eocene (E), Kiselevka, upper Eocene (F, G, M), Pogonovka borehole, upper Eocene (I), Markovka, upper Eocene (J, K, N), Nikol’skoe, upper Eocene (L, P), Grigorevka borehole, upper Eocene (Q, R, S, T), Melovoe, upper Eocene (U, V), and Kiselevka, middle Eocene (W, X). A. Spherostyle. B–D. Tylostyles. E, F, I–K, M. Acanthostyles. G, H. Exotyles. L. Clavidisc. N, O. Acanthoxeas. P–R. Acanthostrongyles. S, T. Sigmas. U, V. Anisochelae. W. Isochela. X. Spheraster. Y, Z. Tylotes. After Ivanik (2003); modified.