Search results for "Stylophorans"

Early Palaeozoic palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology of stylophoran echinoderms

2007

44 pages; International audience; Stylophorans (cornutes, mitrates) represent one of the most diverse classes of Cambro-Ordovician echinoderms. They were freeliving, benthic, non-radiate forms, closely related to asterozoans and crinoids. Taphonomic, sedimentological, and palaeosynecological data provide useful information on key aspects of stylophoran palaeoecology. Such a combined approach suggests that the rarity of stylophorans in proximal environments (above storm-wave base) was probably original and does not exclusively result from the possession of a loosely articulated polyplated calcitic test. Conversely, stylophorans were relatively abundant in deeper settings (below storm-wave ba…