Cambrorhytium
Encyclopedia
Cambrorhytium is an enigmatic fossil genus known from the Latham shale (California), and the Chengjiang (China) and Burgess Shale
(Canadian rockies) lagerstätte
The fossil is conical, with iterated linear markings on its walls, parallel to its base. Its wall is thin, and it lacks the keel that is distinctive of hyoliths.
It has been interpreted as a cnidarian polyp, with the interpretation suggesting that the animal lived in the tube and extended tentacles (of which no trace has been found) from the flat aperture. The other possible, but probably unlikely, affinity is with the hyolith molluscs.
Its name is from the Latin rhytium, drinking horn.
C. elongatum has been described to contain an alimentary canal in a single Chinese specimen.
C. major was originally described as a member of the hyolith genus Orthotheca
.
C. fragilis was originally included by Charles D. Walcott in the genus Selkirkia
, – a taxonomy that was retained by later workers until finally questioned and redescribed as Cambrorhytium in the eighties.
Its similarity with the lower cambrian species Torellelloides giganteum may indicate a close relationship.
Burgess Shale
The Burgess Shale Formation, located in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, is one of the world's most celebrated fossil fields, and the best of its kind. It is famous for the exceptional preservation of the soft parts of its fossils...
(Canadian rockies) lagerstätte
Lagerstätte
A Lagerstätte is a sedimentary deposit that exhibits extraordinary fossil richness or completeness.Palaeontologists distinguish two kinds....
The fossil is conical, with iterated linear markings on its walls, parallel to its base. Its wall is thin, and it lacks the keel that is distinctive of hyoliths.
It has been interpreted as a cnidarian polyp, with the interpretation suggesting that the animal lived in the tube and extended tentacles (of which no trace has been found) from the flat aperture. The other possible, but probably unlikely, affinity is with the hyolith molluscs.
Its name is from the Latin rhytium, drinking horn.
C. elongatum has been described to contain an alimentary canal in a single Chinese specimen.
C. major was originally described as a member of the hyolith genus Orthotheca
Orthotheca
Orthotheca is a genus of sessile bottom-dwelling hyolith....
.
C. fragilis was originally included by Charles D. Walcott in the genus Selkirkia
Selkirkia
Selkirkia is a genus of predatory priapulid worm known from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale. In the Burgess Shale, 20% of the tapering, organic-walled tubes are preserved with the worm inside them, whereas the other 80% are empty...
, – a taxonomy that was retained by later workers until finally questioned and redescribed as Cambrorhytium in the eighties.
Its similarity with the lower cambrian species Torellelloides giganteum may indicate a close relationship.
See also
Cambrorhytium has been compared to the fossil Archotuba and SphenothallusSphenothallus
Sphenothallus is a problematic extinct genus lately attributed to the conulariids. It was widespread in shallow marine environments during the Paleozoic.- Occurrence :...