Asterocidaris

Asterocidaris is a genus of fossils sea urchins in the family Hemicidaridae. These epifaunal grazer-deposit feeders lived in the Middle and Upper Jurassic age (from 171.6 to 161.2 Ma).[2]

Asterocidaris
Temporal range: Jurassic
Fossil of Asterocidaris species from Morocco
Fossil spicules of Asterocidaris meandrina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoidea
Infraclass: Carinacea
Family: †Hemicidaridae
Genus: †Asterocidaris
Cotteau, 1859[1]

Species
  • Asterocidaris besairiei Lambert, 1936 †
  • Asterocidaris meandrina (Agassiz 1840) † [3]
  • Asterocidaris ragoti Lambert, 1936 †

[4]

Description

These fossil spined echinoid sea urchins can reach a diameter of about 25 millimetres (0.98 in), with spicules of about 69x60mm.[5] They are hemispherical, flattened beneath, with small apical disc.[6]

Distribution

Fossils of species within this genus have been found in the Middle to Upper Jurassic sediments (Bajocian-Oxfordian) in Europe, Madagascar and Africa (Morocco).[4][6]

References
  1. GBIF. "Asterocidaris Cotteau, 1859 - Checklist View". gbif.org. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  2. "Fossilworks: Asterocidaris". fossilworks.org. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  3. "Mesozoic_Echinoids". earthphysicsteaching.homestead.com. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  4. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Asterocidaris Cotteau, 1859 †". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  5. "Spicules - Miner Fossil, Tú tienda de fósiles y minerales - Your shop of minerals and fossils". minerfossil.jimdo.com. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  6. Smith, A. B. & Kroh, A. (editor) 2011. The Echinoid Directory


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