''Asterocidaris'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of fossils sea urchins in the family
Hemicidaridae. These epifaunal grazer-deposit feeders lived in the Middle and Upper Jurassic age (from 171.6 to 161.2 Ma).
Species
* ''Asterocidaris besairiei''
Lambert, 1936 †
* ''Asterocidaris meandrina''
(Agassiz 1840) †
* ''Asterocidaris ragoti''
Lambert, 1936 †
Description
These fossil spined echinoid sea urchins can reach a diameter of about , with spicules of about 69x60mm.
They are hemispherical, flattened beneath, with small apical disc.
[
]
Distribution
Fossils of species within this genus have been found in the Middle to Upper Jurassic
The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 143.1 Mya. ...
sediments (Bajocian-Oxfordian) in Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
, Madagascar
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...
and Africa (Morocco
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...
).[Smith, A. B. & Kroh, A. (editor) 2011]
The Echinoid Directory
/ref>
References
Prehistoric echinoid genera
Jurassic echinoderms
Prehistoric echinoderms of Europe
Fossil taxa described in 1852
Prehistoric echinoderms of Africa
{{Echinoidea-stub