''Rhombocorniculum'' is a species of small shelly fossil comprising twisted ornamented cones. It has been described from the
Comley Limestone and elsewhere. ''R. cancellatum'' straddles the Atdabanian/Botomian boundary.
The structure of its inner layer suggests that its phosphatic fibres formed within a flexible organic matrix.
Taxonomy
Three species are recognized — in stratigraphic succession: ''R. insolutum'', ''R. cancellatum'' (=''R. walliseri''), and ''R. spinosus'' (=''Rushtonites spinosus'').
Landing (1995) refers ''R. insolutum'' to the strictocorniculids, along with ''
Rushtonites''.
Hinz (1987) considers ''insolutum'' to fall within the variability seen in ''cancellatum''.
Affinity
Based on details of the ornament and construction, ''Rhombocorniculum'' is interpreted as the spines of a ''
Hallucigenia
''Hallucigenia'' is a genus of lobopodian known from Cambrian aged fossils in Burgess Shale-type deposits in Canada and China, and from isolated spines around the world. The generic name reflects the type species' unusual appearance and eccen ...
''-like lobopodian worm.
See also
*''
Mongolitubulus
''Mongolitubulus'' is a form genus encapsulating a range of ornamented conical small shelly fossils of the Cambrian, Cambrian period. It is potentially synonymous with ''Rushtonites'', ''Tubuterium'' and certain species of ''Rhombocorniculum'', a ...
''
References
Prehistoric protostome genera
Cambrian animals of Europe
{{Cambrian-animal-stub