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The Echinoid Directory

Superfamily Paleopneustoidea A. Agassiz, 1904, p. 150

[[Paleopneustidea A. Agassiz, 1904 in Kroh & Smith, 1910, p. 173]]

Diagnosis

 Paleopneustid spatangoids with:

  • ethmolytic apical disc
  • petals ending in occluded plates
  • episternal plates paired and opposite
  • marginal and peripetalous fascioles separate around entire test; may be lost in development.
Range
Paleocene to Recent; widespread.
Remarks

As pointed out by Chesher (1968) and Markov & Solovjev (2001), the two families Pericosmidae and Paleopneustidae share a similar pattern of fasciole development, and both have occluded plates at the tips of the petals. No other member of the Paleopneustina has occluded elements, so taxa without fascioles as adults can be assigned. Mundaster is the only other taxon with separate marginal and peripetalous fascioles, but this taxon has an ethmophract apical disc and no occluded plates.

Chesher, R. H. 1968. The systematics of sympatric species in West Indian spatangoids: a revision of the genera Brissopsis, Plethotaenia, Paleopneustes, and Saviniaster. Studies in Tropical Oceanography 7, 1-168, pls 1-35.

Markov, A. V. & Solovjev, A. N. 2001. Echinoids of the family Paleopneustidae (Echinoidea, Spatangoida): morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny. Geos 2001, 1-109.