invertebrates, related to annelids (Annelida). Their living tubes are the elements with the
greatest chances of preservation in the fossil state. Biochemical studies on Recent
pogonophores showed that a chitin-protein complex is the basic structural component of
these tubes.
The morphology of tubes is of importance for the taxonomy of Pogonophora.
Features such as length, diameter and ornamentation of the tubes and their
differentiation into sections are helpful in identification of species and genera, whereas
they appear insufficient as criteria for families and orders. Therefore, I consider that all
the fossil pogonophores should be treated as forms of incertae ordinis et familiae. In
working on fossil pogonophores one should bear in mind possibility of essential
differences between individual section of a given tube. The situation is addtionally
complicated by the fact that all the fossil tubes hitherto described are known only on the
basis of fragments. The case of the Recent Pogonophora is not dissimilar because the
material coming from seas is usually crushed.
Ivanovites Koz?owski, 1967
Sokolovisyrinx Mierzejewski & Kulicki, 2003
Koz?owski, R. 1967. Sur certains fossiles ordoviciens a test organique.- Acta Palaeontologia Polonica 12, 2, 99-132.
Mierzejewski, P. 1986. Ultrastructure, taxonomy and affinities of some Ordovician and Silurian organic microfossils. -
Palaeontologia Polonica 47, 129-220.
Edited by
Piotr Mierzejewski, the Count of Calmont and Countess Maja Anna Korwin-Kossakowska
2002-2003
