Agaricocrinus

Agaricocrinus Temporal range: Carboniferous PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N [1]
Fossil specimen of Agaricocrinus splendens from United States, on display at Galerie de paléontologie et d'anatomie comparée in Paris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Crinoidea
Family:	Coelocrinidae
Genus:	Agaricocrinus Austin 1851

Agaricocrinus is a genus of extinct crinoids, belonging to the family Coelocrinidae.

These stationary upper-level epifaunal suspension feeders lived in the Carboniferous period and in the Osagean age of United States, from 353.8 to 345.0 Ma. ^{[1] [2]}

Selected species

• Agaricocrinus americanus Roemer
• Agaricocrinus splendens Miller and Gurley

Description

Like extant crinoids, Agaricocrinus species was anchored to a hard surface by a holdfast out of which grew an articulated stalk. On top of this was a calyx with a number of feather-like arms. Each arm bore short branches known as pinnules and from these cirri were extended which sifted plankton from the water flowing past. ^[3]

References

1. "The Paleobiology Database". Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
2. Meyer, David L.; Ausich, William I. (1997). "Morphologic Variation within and among Populations of the Camerate Crinoid Agaricocrinus (Lower Mississippian, Kentucky and Tennessee): Breaking the Spell of the Mushroom". Journal of Paleontology. 71 (5): 896–917. Bibcode:1997JPal...71..896M. doi:10.1017/S0022336000035824. JSTOR   1306565. S2CID   133209846.
3. Dorit, R. L.; Walker, W. F.; Barnes, R. D. (1991). Zoology. Saunders College Publishing. pp.  790–792. ISBN   978-0-03-030504-7.