Diplochaetetes mexicanus

Diplochaetetes mexicanus is an extinct species of cirratulid polychaete within the genus Diplochaetetes from the Pacific coasts of the Americas, found mostly in Oligocene and Miocene sedimentary rocks. Its first reported occurrence was in Baja California sediments, hence the name.[1] Later findings have extended its paleogeographic distribution up to Peru.[2] Initially described as a sponge, the similarity of these aggregates with present-day Dodecaceria bioconstructions from the exact same areas has led researchers to classify these fossils as cirratulid bioconstructions.[3][4] Both fossil Diplochaetetes and recent Dodecaceria bioconstructions retain identical double-phased biomineralization characteristics, but the possible synonymity of these species is currently subject to debate.[5]

Diplochaetetes mexicanus
Diplochaetetes mexicanus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Order: Terebellida
Family: Cirratulidae
Genus: Diplochaetetes
Species:
D. mexicanus
Binomial name
Diplochaetetes mexicanus
Wilson, 1986

Up until the discovery of Diplochaetetes mexicanus, fossil cirratulid bioconstructions were only known from Eocene sediments in Namibia.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ Wilson EC (1986). "The first tertiary sclerosponge from the Americas". Palaeontology. 29 (3): 577–583.
  2. ^ Kočí T, Bosio G, Collareta A, Sanfilippo R, Ekrt B, Urbina M, Malinverno E (2021). "First report on the cirratulid (Annelida, Polychaeta) reefs from the Miocene Chilcatay and Pisco Formations (East Pisco Basin, Peru)". Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 107: 103042. Bibcode:2021JSAES.10703042K. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2020.103042. S2CID 229508575.
  3. ^ Fischer R, Galli Oliver C, Reitner J (1989). "Skeletal structure, growth, and paleoecology of the patch reef-buildingpolychaete worm Diplochaetetes mexicanus wilson, 1986 from the oligocene of baja california (Mexico)". Geobios. 22 (6): 761–775. Bibcode:1989Geobi..22..761F. doi:10.1016/S0016-6995(89)80071-3.
  4. ^ Fischer R, Pernet B, Reitner, J (2000). "Organomineralization of cirratulid annelid tubes-fossil and recent examples". Facies. 42 (1): 35–49. Bibcode:2000Faci...42...35F. doi:10.1007/BF02562565. S2CID 128949856.
  5. ^ Guido A, D'Amico F, DeVries TJ, Kočí T, Collareta A, Bosio G, Sanfilippo R (2024). "Double-phased controlled and influenced biomineralization in marine invertebrates: The example of Miocene to recent reef-building polychaete cirratulids from southern Peru". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 639: 112060. Bibcode:2024PPP...63912060G. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112060. S2CID 267306998.
  6. ^ Weissermel W (1913). "Uber tertiäre Versteinerungen von den Bogenfelser Diamantfeldern II. Tabulaten und Hydrozoen". Beiträge zur geologischen Erforschung der deutschen Schutzgebiete. 5: 84–111.
  7. ^ Weissermel W (1926). "Neues uber Tabulaten, Hydrozoen und eine Hexakoralle aus dem Tertiar der Bogenfelser Diamantenfelder". Die Diamantenwuste Sudwest-Afrikas. (ed Kaiser, H.). 2: 88–106.