The first representatives of the genus Cameroptychium Leonhard, 1897 (Porifera, Hexactinellida) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Volga region

Abstract

The first representatives of Cameroptychium on the territory of Russia, which are established in the rocks of the Upper Cretaceous of the Volga region, are described. The labyrinthine structure of the skeleton and the modular, colonial level of organization of these sponges are considered, which is typical for many Late Cretaceous Hexactinellids. The widespread manifestation of isomorphism indicates the finiteness of the formation of representatives of Hexactinellida. The origin of Cameroptychium is correlated with Santonian Plocoscyphia.