The Echinoid Directory

Scutulum Tournouer, 1870, p. 981

[=Parmulechinus Lambert, 1910, p. 64, type species Stenaster labrei Lambert, 1905, p. 140 (= Scutella agassizi Oppenheim, 1902); = Scutellum Fritel, 1910, p. 209 (nomen vanum)]

Diagnostic Features	Test up to 35 mm in length; wider than long and very flat; margin indentated at the posterior ambulacra. Apical disc slightly posterior of centre; 4 gonopores Internal partitions well developed meshwork around periphery. Petals well developed but short; only half the radius; almost closed distally. Interambulacral zones a little narrower than ambulacra at ambitus. Basicoronal circlet pentagonal without projecting interambulacral plates. Interambulacrum continuous or possibly only just separated in one or two zones on oral surface. Periproct supramarginal, close to posterior margin. Food grooves bifurcate at edge of basicoronal plate.
Distribution	Upper Eocene to Lower Oligocene of western Europe.
Name gender	neuter
Type	Scutulum parisiense Tournouer, 1869, by monotypy.
Species Included	S. parisiense Tournouer, 1869; Lower Oligocene, France.
Classification and/or Status	Clypeasteroida; Scutellina; Scutelliformes; Scutellidea, Scutellidae.
Remarks	Recently described by Roman (1990). The only difference between this taxon and Parmulechinus lies in the position of the periproct. In Scutulum the periproct is just supramarginal, whereas in Parmulechinus it is either marginal or oral. However, the specimens of Scutulum are much smaller and in Parmulechinus the periproct can be supramarginal in small individuals. Roman, J. 1990 L`ancestre eocene des Scutellidae (Echinoidea; Clypeasteroida). Pp. 41-47 in C. de Ridder et al. (eds) Echinoderm Research. Proceedings of the Second European Conference on Echinoderms. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. Tournouer, M. A. 1870. Bulletin de la Societe geologique de France, Serie 2, 26, p. 981.