A remarkable new halichondrid demosponge, Ptilospongia hemisphaeroidalis, from the latest Ordovician Beigong Biota, South China

A remarkable new halichondrid demosponge, Ptilospongia hemisphaeroidalis, from the latest Ordovician Beigong Biota, South China

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A new halichondrid demosponge bubarid Ptilospongia hemisphaeroidalis gen.et sp.nov.is described from the latest Ordovician Beigong Biota in Jingxian County, Anhui Province, South China.The new taxon is well-preserved with a two-layer choanosomal skeleton structure (basal layer and erect monactines Sealed Crimp Joiner Terminals layer) and three different types of megascleres (styles, strongyles, strongyloxeas), providing an excellent insight into a bubarid affinity and indicating a previously unknown group.

It probably represents the earliest known AC-DC Mains Power Adaptor fossil record of bubarids, providing a more reliable calibration point currently available for taxonomic and molecular phylogenetic studies.