Eccentrotheca is a genus of "tommotiid" known from Cambrian deposits. Its sclerites form rings that are stacked to produce a widening-upwards conical scleritome.[1] Individual plates have been homologized with the valves of brachiopods, and a relationship with the phoronids is also likely at a stem-group level.[1] Its pointed end terminated in a stub that probably fastened it to a hard sea floor; its open end has been interpreted as a filter-feeding aperture.[1]

Eccentrotheca
Temporal range: Early Cambrian
Life restoration
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Order: "Tommotiida"
Genus: Eccentrotheca
Landing, Nowlan & Fletcher, 1980

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Skovsted, C. B.; Brock, G. A.; Topper, T. P.; Paterson, J. R.; Holmer, L. E. (2011). "Scleritome construction, biofacies, biostratigraphy and systematics of the tommotiid Eccentrotheca helenia sp. nov. from the Early Cambrian of South Australia". Palaeontology. 54 (2): 253–286. Bibcode:2011Palgy..54..253S. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.01031.x. S2CID 128946130.