Aethocrinus
Extinct genus of echinoderms
| Aethocrinus Temporal range: Lower Ordovician PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Crinoidea |
| Family: | †Aethocrinidae |
| Genus: | †Aethocrinus |
Aethocrinus is an early-diverging crinoid reported from the Early Ordovician.[1] Its five arms bifurcate.
The contested Echmatocrinus notwithstanding, it is a candidate for the earliest true member of the crinoid class – though not being a member of the crown group, quite where within the stem group to draw the distinction between eocrinoids and crinoids is a somewhat arbitrary decision.
References
- ^ Philip, G. M.; Strimple, H. L. (1971). "An Interpretation of the Crinoid Aethocrinus moorei Ubaghs". Journal of Paleontology. 45 (3): 491–493. JSTOR 1302696.
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