Dictyonema (graptolite)

Dictyonema is a genus of dendroid graptolites in the order Dendroidea.[1]

Dictyonema
Temporal range: Upper Cambrian - Devonian
Dictyonema retiforme from Early Silurian of Canada (425 myo)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Hemichordata
Class:
† Graptolithina
Order:
† Dendroidea
Family:
† Dendrograptidae
Genus:
Dictyonema

Hall, 1851
Synonyms[1]
  • Dictyodendron Westergård 1909
  • Dictyograptus Hopkinson 1875
  • Airograptus Ruedemann 1916
  • Damesograptus Jahn 1892
  • Nephelograptus Ruedemann 1947

Fossil record

Fossils of Dictyonema are found from the Upper Cambrian to the Devonian (age range: from 488.3 to 383.7 million years ago.). They are known from various localities in Europe, North America, South America, China and Morocco.[1][2]

Description

These colonial organism are characterized by a conical, net-like structure. The colonies (known as rhabdosomes) are branched and may vary from almost discoidal to almost cylindrical. They were stationary planktonic suspension feeders.[1][2]

Species
  • †Dictyonema macgillivrayi (Hall 1899)
  • †Dictyonema pulchellum (Hall 1899)
  • †Dictyonema retiforme (Hall 1843)

Bibliography
  • Bulman, O. M. B. 1970. Graptolithina with sections of Enteropneusta and Pterobranchia. In Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part V 2nd ed. (C. Teichert, ed.) pp. V1-V149. The Geological Society of America, Inc.: Boulder (Colorado), and the University of Kansas: Lawrence (Kansas).
  • Fletcher, H. O. 1971. Catalogue of type specimens of fossils in the Australian Museum, Sydney. Australian Museum Memoir 13: 1-167.
  • Jaanusson, V. 1979. Ordovician. In: Robison, R. A., & C. Teichert (eds) Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology pt A. Introduction. Fossilisation (Taphonomy), Biogeography and Biostratigraphy pp. A136-A166. The Geological Society of America, Inc.: Boulder (Colorado), and The University of Kansas: Lawrence (Kansas).
  • Kozłowski, R. 1948. Les graptolithes et quelques nouveaux groupes d’animaux du Tremadoc de la Pologne. Palaeontologica Polonica 3: I-XII, 1-235.
  • Rudolf Ruedemann - Graptolites of North America – Geological Society of America

References
  1. Christopher Taylor Variety of life
  2. Paleobiology Database Paleobiology Database
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