Biology:Asterocidaris

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Short description: Fossil genus of sea urchins

Asterocidaris
Temporal range: Jurassic
Hemicidaridae - Asterocidaris species.JPG
Fossil of Asterocidaris species from Morocco
Hemicidaridae - Asterocidaris meandrina-001.JPG
Fossil spicules of Asterocidaris meandrina
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoidea
Infraclass: Carinacea
Family: Hemicidaridae
Genus: Asterocidaris
Cotteau, 1859[1]

Asterocidaris is a genus of fossils sea urchins in the family Hemicidaridae. These epifaunal grazer-deposit feeders lived in the Middle and Upper Jurassic age (from 171.6 to 161.2 Ma).[2]

Species

  • Asterocidaris besairiei Lambert, 1936
  • Asterocidaris meandrina (Agassiz 1840) [3]
  • Asterocidaris ragoti Lambert, 1936

[4]

Description

These fossil spined echinoid sea urchins can reach a diameter of about 25 millimetres (0.98 in), with spicules of about 69x60mm.[5] They are hemispherical, flattened beneath, with small apical disc.[6]

Distribution

Fossils of species within this genus have been found in the Middle to Upper Jurassic sediments (Bajocian-Oxfordian) in Europe, Madagascar and Africa (Morocco).[4][6]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q20685953 entry