Description

Camptostroma roddyi
Echinoderm
Early Cambrian
Kinzers Formation
York, Pennsylvania, USA

56mm extremely rare echinoderm on 138mm slab

Camptostroma is an extinct genus of echinoderm that lived during the Cambrian period. It is known from fossil records and is part of a group of ancient marine invertebrates that are distant relatives of modern echinoderms like starfish and sea urchins. Camptostroma species had a unique appearance, characterized by their flat, circular, or dome-shaped bodies covered with plates or scales, and they likely lived on the sea floor.

Here are some key points about Camptostroma:

Taxonomy: Camptostroma belongs to the class Edrioasteroidea, which is a class of echinoderms known for their discoidal to cylindrical shapes and attachment to the substrate via a specialized surface.

Morphology: Fossils of Camptostroma reveal a structure that is typically circular or dome-shaped with a series of plates. The central part of the body usually features a series of radiating grooves, which are believed to be part of its water vascular system, a characteristic feature of echinoderms.

Habitat: These organisms were benthic, meaning they lived on the sea floor. They are thought to have been sessile, attaching themselves to hard surfaces like rocks or shells.

Fossil Record: Fossils of Camptostroma are exclusively found in the Early Cambrian and represent a very early stage in echinoderm evolution.