The Anji biota is a lagerstätte from the latest Ordovician of China, contained within the Wenchang Formation. This lagerstätte preserves a mid-diversity fauna mostly consisting of glass sponges.
Paleobiota
PaleobiotaGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesArchopterusA. anjiensisAdelophthalmidaeEarliest adelophthalmid, alongside the earliest Chinese eurypteridAnjigraptusA. wangiNeodiplograptidae?Independently evolved a morphology similar to dicranograptidsAvitograptusA. avitus, A. akidomorphus, A. acanthocystusAkidograptidae (Graptolithina)Transitional between earlier and later akidograptidsAnjiplectellaA. davidipharusEuplectellidaeExtends the range of Venus’ flower basket sponges back by almost 150 million yearsArchaeaphormeA. conicaRossellidaeResembles the modern Aphorme, but differs in body shape and spicule characteristicsCannapiraniaC. vermiformisPiraniidae (Protomonaxonida)Formerly placed within Pirania itselfConciliospongiaC. anjiensisSiliceaTransitional between hexactinellids and demospongesCrateromorpha?C?. (Neopsacas?) macrospiculaRossellidaeLikely a member of an extant genusEorosselloidesE. antiquusRossellidaeVery closely resembles the modern Rossella, but too poorly preserved to determine whether it actually belongs to the genusMatteolaspongiaM. hemiglobosaRossellidae?Either convergently rossellid-like, or in the stem-group of the familyPseudanoxycalyxP. verrucosusRossellidaeConvergently resembles the modern AnoxycalyxShouzhispongiaS. coronata, S. prodigiaRossellidaeOne of the most common Anji sponges
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