Haplophrentis

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Haplophrentis
Temporal range: Middle Cambrian[1]
Reconstruction of Haplophrentis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Superphylum: Lophotrochozoa
Class: †Hyolitha
Order: †Hyolithida
Family: †Hyolithidae
Genus: †Haplophrentis
Matthew, 1899
Species
  • H. carinatus (Matthew, 1899)[1] (= H. cecrops Walcott)
  • H. reesei Babcock & Robison 1988 (type)
Haplophrentis carinatus from the Stephen Formation, Burgess Shale (Middle Cambrian), Burgess Pass, British Columbia, Canada.

Haplophrentis is a genus of tiny shelled

hyolithid which lived in the Cambrian Period. Its shell was long and conical, with the open end protected by an operculum, from which two fleshy arms called helens protruded at the sides. These arms served to elevate the opening of the shells above the sea floor, acting like stilts.[2]

Morphology

Shell length of H. reesi reached up to 4.6 centimetres (1.8 in) while H. carinatus reached up to 3.05 centimetres (1.20 in). Juveniles could of course be smaller.

Hyolithes by the presence of a longitudinal septum on the middle of the inner surface of the top of the shell.[1]

Its soft anatomy comprises 12(H. carinatus) to 16 (H. reesi) tentacles attached to a horseshoe-shaped lophophore. A pair of wide structures of uncertain function extend along the length of the conical shell. A larval shell is attached to the shell apex.[2]

Affinity

The soft anatomy of Haplophrentis was key to establishing the hyoliths as members of the Lophophorata, the group containing brachiopods and phoronids.[2] While some studies supported this interpretation,[3] other studies considered hyoliths as basal lophotrochozoan[4] or mollusk.[5][6]

Ecology

Haplophrentis was a filter feeder, using its lophophore to extract organic matter from passing seawater.[2] Specimens of Haplophrentis have been found in the gut of the predator Ottoia.

Occurrence

186 specimens of Haplophrentis are known from the Greater Phyllopod bed, where they comprise 0.35% of the community.[7] It is also known from several specimens in the Spence Shale, and occurs prolifically at the Marble Canyon locality. Many specimens at Stanley Glacier display soft tissue well.[2]

References

  1. ^
    OCLC 19610612
    .
  2. ^
    S2CID 4409157
    .
  3. PMID 30257914
    .
  4. PMID 34692060
    .
  5. S2CID 134098738
    .
  6. PMID 32811320
    .
  7. S2CID 53646959
    .

External links
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