A new potamolepid freshwater sponge (Demospongiae) from the Miocene Nakamura Formation, central Japan

Abstract

The freshwater sponge Oncosclera kaniensis sp. nov. of the demospongian family Potamolepidae is described from the Early Miocene Nakamura Formation (Mizunami Group) in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. This is the first fossil record of the Potamolepidae in the world and also is the first documentation of fossil sponges from the Nakamura Formation. Paleoecology of Oncosclera kaniensis sp. nov. is briefly discussed.