Eldoniid
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Eldonia Temporal range: Cambrian Stage 3–Middle Ordovician |
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| Eldonia ludwigii from the middle Cambrian Burgess Shale. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Superphylum: | Ambulacraria |
| (unranked): | Cambroernida |
| (unranked): | Paropsonemida |
| Family: |
Eldoniidae Walcott 1911 |
| Genus: | Eldonia |
| Species: |
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Eldonia is an extinct soft-bodied animal of unknown affinity, best known from the Fossil Ridge outcrops of the Burgess Shale, particularly in the 'Great Eldonia layer' in the Walcott Quarry. In addition to the 550 collected by Walcott, 224 specimens of Eldonia are known from the Greater Phyllopod bed, where they comprise 0.43% of the community. Species also occur in the Chengjiang biota, and in Upper Ordovician strata of Morocco.
Walcott's original interpretation as a holothurian was rapidly disputed. Alternative affinities to be suggested, which did not stand the test of time, included the siphonophores and a coelenterate medusa.
It takes the form of a round, medusoid disk (which originally led to suggestions of a jellyfish affinity) with a C-shaped gut trace. The gut is recalcitrant and can be extracted using HF acid. The organism is frequently found in association with the lobopod Microdictyon, which is presumed to have fed on Eldonia.
The eldoniids form a clade that also includes Paropsonema, Rotadiscus, and Stellostomites.
Eldonia berbera
Eldonia ludwigii, Wolcott Quarry. About 4 cm long
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