Sphenothallus
{{Short description|Extinct genus of aquatic animals}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| taxon = Sphenothallus
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|Upper Lower Cambrian|Mississippian|ref=Earliest, upper Lower Cambrian (Van Iten et al 2002); latest, not referenced; at least to Mississippian}}
| image = SphenothallidHoldfastOrdovician.jpg
| image_caption = Sphenothallus holdfast from the Kope Formation (Upper Ordovician), Gunpowder Creek, Kentucky.
| authority = Hall, 1847
}}
Sphenothallus is a problematic extinct genus lately attributed to the conulariids. It was widespread in shallow marine environments during the Paleozoic.{{Cite journal| last1 = Bodenbender | first1 = B. E.| last2 = Wilson | first2 = M. A.| last3 = Palmer | first3 = T. J.| title = Paleoecology of Sphenothallus on an Upper Ordovician hardground| journal = Lethaia| volume = 22| pages = 217–225| year = 1989| issue = 2| doi = 10.1111/j.1502-3931.1989.tb01685.x}}{{cite journal
| doi = 10.4202/app.00049.2013
| title = Alleged cnidarian Sphenothallus in the Late Ordovician of Baltica, its mineral composition and microstructure
| year = 2015
| author = Vinn, O.
| author2 = Kirsimäe, K.
| journal = Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
| volume = 60
| pages = 1001–1008
| url = https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app000492013.html
| accessdate = 2014-06-11| doi-access = free
}}
Occurrence
Sphenothallus is represented in the Cambrian period in the Kaili biota and the Mount Stephen trilobite beds, where it co-occurs with the similar organisms Cambrorhythium and Byronia.{{Cite journal| last1 = Van Iten | first1 = H.| last2 = Zhu | first2 = M. Y.| last3 = Collins | first3 = D.| title = First Report of Sphenothallus Hall, 1847 in the Middle Cambrian| jstor = 1307202| journal = Journal of Paleontology| volume = 76| issue = 5| pages = 902–905| year = 2002| issn = 0022-3360| doi = 10.1666/0022-3360(2002)076<0902:FROSHI>2.0.CO;2| s2cid = 131018299}} It is known in younger strata in Canada and the US, surviving at least until the Mississippian.{{Cite journal| last1 = Neal | first1 = M. L.| last2 = Hannibal | first2 = J. T.| title = Paleoecologic and Taxonomic Implications Ofsphenothallusandsphenothallus-Like Specimens from Ohio and Areas Adjacent to Ohio| journal = Journal of Paleontology| volume = 74| issue = 3| pages = 369| year = 2000| issn = 0022-3360| doi = 10.1666/0022-3360(2000)074<0369:PATIOS>2.0.CO;2| s2cid = 130829810}}
Ecology
Sphenothallus lived in groups as an opportunist in environments from hardgrounds to soft mud, even if depleted in oxygen. It probably dispersed via larvae.
Notes
{{Reflist|group=Note}}
References
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External links
- {{Cite web|date=2011|title=Sphenothallus sp.|work=Burgess Shale Fossil Gallery|publisher=Virtual Museum of Canada|url=http://burgess-shale.rom.on.ca/en/fossil-gallery/view-species.php?id=117|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/20201112025257/http://burgess-shale.rom.on.ca/en/fossil-gallery/view-species.php?id=117|archive-date=2020-11-12|url-status=dead}}
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