Hazelia
Encyclopedia
Hazelia is a genus of spicular Cambrian demosponge
known from the Burgess Shale
, the Marjum formation
of Utah, and possibly Chengjiang. It was described by Charles Walcott in 1920.
Its tracts are mainly radial and anastomose to form an irregular skeleton. Its oxeas form a fine net in the skin of the sponge.
Demosponge
The Demospongiae are the largest class in the phylum Porifera. Their "skeletons" are made of spicules consisting of fibers of the protein spongin, the mineral silica, or both. Where spicules of silica are present, they have a different shape from those in the otherwise similar glass sponges...
known from the Burgess Shale
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...
, the Marjum formation
Marjum formation
The Marjum formation is a Cambrian geological formation that overlies the Wheeler Shale in the House Range, Utah. It is known for its occasional preservation of soft-bodied tissue, and is slightly younger than the Burgess Shale, falling in the Ptychagnostus praecurrens trilobite zone....
of Utah, and possibly Chengjiang. It was described by Charles Walcott in 1920.
Its tracts are mainly radial and anastomose to form an irregular skeleton. Its oxeas form a fine net in the skin of the sponge.