| Echmatocrinus Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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| Echmatocrinus brachiatus | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | incertae sedis |
| Genus: | †Echmatocrinus |
| Species: | †E. brachiatus
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| Binomial name | |
| †Echmatocrinus brachiatus Sprinkle 1973
| |
Echmatocrinus brachiatus is an extinct species of Cambrian animal which resembles a crinoid or an octocoral. Its exact taxonomy is still a subject of debate. It is known only from the Burgess Shale.[1] Around 20 specimens of Echmatocrinus are known; these comprise <0.02% of the community.[2][3]
The creature resembled an inverted cone, with a crown of seven to ten tentacles.[3] Each tentacle was covered with small extensions. The cone itself was covered with irregularly arranged mineralised plates,[1] whose texture recalls that of the Burgess Shale echinoderm Walcottidiscus. The organisms lived a solitary lifestyle, although juveniles are sometimes attached to (or budding from) adults.[1]
Ausich, W. I. 1998a. Early phylogeny and subclass division of the Crinoidea (phylum Echinodermata). Journal of Paleontology 72 (3): 499–510.
Ausich, W. I. 1998b. Origin of the Crinoidea. In Echinoderms: San Francisco (R. Mooi & M. Telford, eds.) pp. 127–132. A. A. Balkema: Rotterdam.
Ausich, W. I. 1999. Origin of crinoids. In Echinoderm Research 1998 (M. D. Candia Carnevali & F. Bonasoro, eds.) pp. 237–242. A. A. Balkema: Rotterdam.
Sprinkle, J., & R. C. Moore. 1978. Echmatocrinea. In Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology pt. T. Echinodermata 2. Crinoidea (R. C. Moore & C. Teichert, eds.) vol. 2, pp. T405-T407. The Geological Society of America, Inc.: Boulder (Colorado), and The University of Kansas: Lawrence (Kansas).
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