Cothurnocystis
Encyclopedia
Cothurnocystis along with all of its relatives in Stylophora
, are enigmatic organisms whose relationship with other organisms, namely the Echinodermata and the Chordata, are in a state of flux. It was boot
-shaped and has been suspected to have contained a primitive notochord
. Some scientists consider the Stylophora to be a group of primitive chordates, calling them the "Calcichordata." The notochord
would have been in the tail and was very basic in its structure. The most common hypothesis is that it was related to echinoderm
s, as the structure of the test
were similar in structure and material to echinoderms. In the top of the boot where a foot would go seems to be the feeding apparatus, with the anus opposite, but the study of these species is vague.
Stylophora
The stylophorans are an extinct, possibly polyphyletic group allied to the echinoderms, comprising the cornutes and mitrates. It is synonymous with the subphylum Calcichordata....
, are enigmatic organisms whose relationship with other organisms, namely the Echinodermata and the Chordata, are in a state of flux. It was boot
Boot
A boot is a type of footwear but they are not shoes. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece....
-shaped and has been suspected to have contained a primitive notochord
Notochord
The notochord is a flexible, rod-shaped body found in embryos of all chordates. It is composed of cells derived from the mesoderm and defines the primitive axis of the embryo. In some chordates, it persists throughout life as the main axial support of the body, while in most vertebrates it becomes...
. Some scientists consider the Stylophora to be a group of primitive chordates, calling them the "Calcichordata." The notochord
Notochord
The notochord is a flexible, rod-shaped body found in embryos of all chordates. It is composed of cells derived from the mesoderm and defines the primitive axis of the embryo. In some chordates, it persists throughout life as the main axial support of the body, while in most vertebrates it becomes...
would have been in the tail and was very basic in its structure. The most common hypothesis is that it was related to echinoderm
Echinoderm
Echinoderms are a phylum of marine animals. Echinoderms are found at every ocean depth, from the intertidal zone to the abyssal zone....
s, as the structure of the test
Test (biology)
A test is a term used to refer to the shell of sea urchins, and also the shell of certain microorganisms, such as testate foraminifera and testate amoebae....
were similar in structure and material to echinoderms. In the top of the boot where a foot would go seems to be the feeding apparatus, with the anus opposite, but the study of these species is vague.
External links
- Fossil Gallery
- Stylophora from palaeos
- Markkos taxonomy
- http://www.ayrshirehistory.org.uk/girvangeologists/Cothurnocystis.gif image
- http://www.geo-tools.com/Images/Gallery/Fossil/Big/041.jpg image
- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/arturordoviciano/ordser2_arquivos/image007.jpg&date=2009-10-26+04:13:47 image