The Echinoid Directory

Chuniola Gagel, 1903, p. 531

Diagnostic Features	Test ovate with marked anterior sulcus; domed in profile with posterior aboral keel. Apical disc central; details unknown. Anterior ambulacrum sunken from apex; rather narrow without enlarged pore-pairs. Paired ambulacra flush, petaloid; anterior and posterior pairs similar in length. Petals bowed with modest perradial zone; converging distally. Pore-pairs conjugate. Anterior column in anterior petals rudimentary in upper half. Peristome not seen. Oral surface not seen in type material. No peripetalous fasciole; presence of inner or subanal fasciole unknown. Large somewhat sunken primary tubercles aborally in lateral and posterior interambulacra.
Distribution	Miocene; North Germany.
Name gender	feminine
Type	Chuniola carolinae Gagel, 1903, p. 531, by original designation.
Species Included	Only the type species.
Classification and/or Status	Spatangoida, Micrasterina, Loveniidae. Monotypic; probably a subjective junior synonym of Hemipatagus Desor, 1858.
Remarks	Poor preservation hinders the accurate determination of this taxon\'s relationships. Contrary to Monrtensen\'s statement (1951, p. 147), the outer surface tuberculation is preserved, and the primary tubercles are only weakly sunken in the type. From what can be seen there seem to be no major differences separating this taxon from Hemipatagus. Gagel, 1903. Jahrbuch Geol. Landesanst. Berlin 23, p. 531. Mortensen, T. 1951. A monograph of the Echinoidea. V. Spatangoida 2. C. A. Reitzel, Copenhagen.