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The Echinoid Directory

Cravenechinus Hawkins, 1946, p. 195

Diagnostic Features
  • Test shape unknown; plating apparently more or less tesselate and moderately thick.
  • Apical disc unknown.
  • Ambulacral zones wide; composed of at least 8 columns of plates, each with a small pore-pair. Many of the larger plates with a primary tubercle, probably imperforate (all are too badly worn to be certain).
  • Interambulacral zones a single column of subrectangular plates, each with a central primary tubercle and small, scattered secondary tubercles.
  • Peristome, lantern and spines all unknown.
Distribution
Lower Carboniferous (Visean), England.
Name gender masculine
Type
Cravenechinus uniserialis Hawkins, 1946, p. 195, by original designation. Holotype, BMNH E32370.
Species Included
  • C. uniserialis Hawkins, 1946; Lower Carboniferous, England.
  • C.? frankei Haude, 1999; Upper Devonian, Germany.
Classification and/or Status

Stem group Echinoidea; Cravenechinidae.

Monotypic.
Remarks Hawkins stated that there were probably 8 columns of ambulacral plates. Although only four are visible in the two columns preserved all have their pore-pairs obliquely angled in the same direction, indicating that all four columns belong to the same half ambulacrum. Although badly weathered, the one well preserved tubercle that remains appears to be imperforate, contrary to Hawkins' statement.

Distinguished from Xenechinus in having a greater number of ambulacral columns in each zone.

Hawkins, H. L. 1946. Cravenechinus, a new type of echinoid from the Carboniferous Limestone. Geological Magazine 83, 192-197, pl. 13.

Haude, R. 1999. Ein seltener palaozoischer Seeigel aus der Endzeit des Iberg-Atolls (Harz, Adorf-Stufe). Neues Jahrbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie, Abhandlungen 214/1-2: 149-167.