Eodictyonella Temporal range:
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Brachiopoda |
Class: | †Chileata |
Order: | †Dictyonellida |
Family: | †Eichwaldiidae |
Genus: | †Eodictyonella |
Synonyms | |
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Eodictyonella is a genus of rhynchonelliform brachiopods belonging to the extinct class Chileata. It is characterised by a non-strophic shell covered by a net-like ornament (Greek dictyon, a net). Like in most chileates, the perforation in the umbonal region of the ventral valve is covered by a colleplax. Eodictyonella is known from the Ordovician to the Lower Devonian.[1]
It had initially been described as Dictyonella Hall, 1868; however, this name proved to be a younger homonym of Dictyonella Schmidt, 1868, a sponge, so has been replaced by Eodictyonella Wright, 1994.[2]
Eodictyonella belongs to the family Eichwaldiidae Schuchert, 1893 and to the order Dictyonellida Cooper, 1956. The latter is based on Eodictyonella under its former name. However, Dictyonellidae is a family of sponges.
Isogramma[1] belongs to the same order, but its external aspect is rather different from Eodictyonella; Isogramma has a strophic shell.[1]