GEOLOGIJA 36, 5-59 (1993), Ljubljana 1994
UDK 563.4:551.736(593)=20
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef
limestones from Phrae province (Northern Thailand)
Baba Senowbari-Daryan
Institute of Paleontology, University of Erlangen, Loewenichstr. 28
D-91054 Erlangen, Deutschland
Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
c/o Institute of Geology and Dynamics of the Lithosphere,
University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstr. 3, D-37077 Göttingen, Deutschland
Abstract
The sponge fauna of uppermost Permian reef or reefal limestones of the Phrae
province in northern Thailand include representatives of hexactinellida, scleros-
pongea, "sphinctozoans", and "inozoans". The "sphinctozoans" and "inozoans"
are described in detail. Following taxa are new:
"Sphinctozoans": Phraethalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp., Ambithalamia pér-
mica n. gen., n. sp.
"Inozoans": Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp., Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n.
gen., n. sp.
The genus name Belyaevaspongia nom. nov. is proposed for Polysiphonella
Belyaeva, 1991 (in Boiko et al., 1991), non Polysiphonella Russo, 1981.
Geological setting
During recent mapping in Phrae province (northern Thailand, text-fig. 1) an
outcrop of Upper Permian (Dorashamian) rocks, rich in sponges, was discovered.
This outcrop is situated in a small creek, located approximately 650 m north of
kilometer 17.5 on the highway from Phrae to Amphoe Long (text-fig. 2). According to
Mickein (1922, unpublished) the creek follows a small syncline which trends NE-
SW and that is disturbed by some minor NE-SW trending faults. The trough of the
syncline is held up by a series of alternating fossiliferous limestones, shales, sandsto-
nes and volcanic rocks (text-fig. 3). Such alternating sequences are typical of the
uppermost Permian in this part of Thailand (Chonglakmani, pers. comm. 1991).
The locality described here is located west of the "Nan-Uttaradit" suture, in that
part of northern Thailand in which Triassic strata of the "Lampang Group" are
widely distributed.
This interpretation does not fully explain the geological relationships of northern
Thailand. The Early and Middle Permian of the region between Mae Hong Son and
6	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Fig. 1. Fossil localities of latest Permian and earliest Triassic age in northern Thailand. The
new locality is indicated by an arrow
Pai in northwestern Thailand - far to the west of the Nan-Uttaradit suture and the
described outcrop - have long been known (K o n i s h i, 1953; Baum et al., 1970) to be
composed of strata clearly indicative of subtropic paleolatitudes: oolitic and
oncolithic limestones are a fclear indication that these areas were not at all influenced
by the Permian-Carboniferous Gondwana glaciations.
The Early Permian fusulinid faunas described from northern Thailand (I n g a v a t
et al., 1980; Toriyama, 1984) also clearly contain arctic elements. These data
indicate that the Nan-Uttaradit suture can not be the trace of the former ocean
(Paleotethys) which was some thousand kilometers wide (separating the Gondwana
facies from the tropical fades). Only a minor oceanic basin closed along the Nan-
Uttaradit suture. This closure occurred in the Middle Permian, as proved by data
from the Phetchabun fold and thrust belt (Helmcke & Lindenberg, 1983;
H elm eke 1985, 1986; Ahrendtet al., 1991), from the Nan-Uttaradit suture itself
(Barr & Macdonald, 1987), and from the region of Phrae (Lüddecke et al.,
1991; Mickein, unpublished 1992). K/Ar data show that a tectonic-metamorphic
event occurred in all of these regions at approximately 260 Ma.
The Late Permian sponge fauna described in this paper, therefore, did not live on
a seamount in the Paleotethys or on the passive margin of a displaced terrane. There
is growing evidence that many areas of Thailand were affected by extension after the
cessation of Middle Permian contractional deformation (Helmcke, 1983; Cooper
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	7
Fig. 2. Generalized sketch of geological relationship of the Upper
Permian sequence along the highway from Phrae to Amphoe Long
(kilometer 17.5)
8	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Fig. 3. Lithological section of the Upper Permian limestones which yielded the rich sponge
fauna (approximately 650 m north of the highway from Phrae to Amphoe Long)
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	9
et al., 1989; Sattayarak et al., 1989). The extensional deformation had already
started in the investigated area during the Late Permian and created the sedimentary
basins in which the described strata were deposited.
Systematic Paleontology
Paleontological description of these sponges is based on 15 large-sized thin
sections (15x10 cm or 10 x 7.5 cm) and about 20 polished slabs. Other reef organisms,
such as corals, do not occur in the collected samples. We are sure that not all taxa of
the reef organisms, including sponges, have been included in this small collection. We
are also certain that a more intensive collection of the Permian rocks in Phrae
province will increase the number of species of sponges and other organisms.
The holotypes and paratypes' of the investigated material are housed in "Ba-
yerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und historische Geologie, München"
(inventory: Senowbari-Daryan, 1993, Thailand: thin-sections: Tl..., rocks or
polished slabs: RI...).
"Sphinctozoa"
The large number of "sphinctozoans" in the investigated limestones from Phrae
province (northern Thailand) are represented by taxa which are very similar or
almost identical to those of other Permian reefs known from different localities of the
world. However, the frequency of individual genera seems to vary in these different
localities. The new taxa, not known from other localities, could be endemic and
limited to this area.
Phylum Porifera Grant, 1836
Class Demospongea Solías, 1875
Subclass Ceractinomorpha Lévi, 1973
Order Permosphincta Termier and Termier, 1974
Family Colospongiidae Senowbari-Daryan, 1991
Synonym: Colospongiidae Boiko and Belyaeva 1991.
Discussion: Boiko and Belyaeva (in Boiko et al., 1991: 78) established the
new family Colospongiidae, with the type genus Colospongia Laube (1865) and with
almost the same definition of the family and the same membership of genera as
Colospongiidae introduced by Senowbari-Daryan (1990). The family name
Colospongiidae Boiko and Belyaeva (1991)isa junior synonym of Colospongiidae
Senowbari-Daryan (1990).
Belyaeva (in Boiko et al., 1991, p. 93) has introduced the new genus name
Polysiphonella and the family name Polysiphonellidae for those "sphinctozoan"
sponges with the following features:
"Catenulate, porate, solitary or colonial "sphinctozoans" with axial canals of
ambisiphonat or retrosiphonat type and with more or less numerous peripheral
canals passing through couple of chambers. The chamber interior is hollow or filled
with some spore-like filling structure".
10	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Some remarks regarding the Role of International Zoological Nomenclature
(RIZN) and the systematic affinity of sponges described as Polysiphonella by Bely-
aeva are necessary:
1.	The genus name Polysiphonella is occupied by an inozoan genus introduced by
Russo (1981) and therefore according to (RIZN) the name "Polysiphonella"
Belyaeva is an invalid name. Because of the invalidity of the genus name the
family name "Polysiphonellidae" Belyaeva (non Polysiphonellidae Wu (1991))
with the type genus Polysiphonella Russo (1981) is also invalid as well (our
consideraton of RIZN in this paper does not mean to justify the family name in the
classification of sphinctozoid sponges by Wu, 1991).
2.	The memberships of the familiy Intrasporeocoeliidae Fan and Zhang {Rhabdac-
tinia Yabe & Sugiyama, 1934, and Intrasporeocoelia Fan & Zhang, 1985) were
moved from this family as Intrasporeocoeliinae to the new family Polysiphos-
ponelliidae by Belyaeva. Here the RIZN was not taken in consideration by the
author. Consequently the representatives of the family Polysiphonelliidae should
be placed as Polysiphonelliinae into the family Intrasporeocoeliidae.
3.	According to Belyaeva (in Boiko at el., 1991, p. 93) the sponge described as
Polysiphonella insolita possesses several ambisiphonate or retrosiphonate axial
spongocoels. The axial spongocoels can not be seen in specimen(s) illustrated by
Belyaeva in pi. 20, fig. 1-3. Also the spore-like filling structure within the
chamber interior, as mentioned by Belyaeva, can not be seen in the illustrated
specimens of Belyaeva. The chamber interiors are filled either with micritic
sediment showing partly geopetal structure or with sparry calcite cement. Some
vesiculae occur within the chamber interiors.
The morphology, catenulate arrangement of the chambers, perforation of the
chamber walls and the occurrence of vesiculae within the chamber interiors of
sponges described as Polysiphonella insolita by Belyaeva and also in this paper are
identical with Colospongia Laube. Large ostia within the chamber walls occur in the
type species Colospongia dubia and also in some other species of Colospongia (see
Senowbari-Daryan & Rigby, 1988, p. 183; Senowbari-Daryan, 1990, p.
64). However, these ostia or sieve-like plates are only on the exowall and not
developed in the interwall. The ostia occurring in some species of Colospongia do not
pass through a couple or several chambers as in "Polysiphonella" insolita. For this
reason we accept the opinion of Belyaeva that a separate genus should be estab-
lished for this sponge. Because of the invalidity of Polysiphonella Belyaeva 1991
(in Boiko et al., 1991) (non Polysiphonella Russo 1981) the genus name Belyaevas-
pongia nov. nom. is proposed. Belyaevaspongia is placed in the family Colospon-
giidae Senowbari-Daryan (1990).
Genus Belyaevaspongia nov. nom.
Derivatio nominis: Named for Dr. G. V. Belyaeva who described this sponge
for the first time.
Diagnosis: Moniliforme, porate "sphinctozoan" sponge without a spongocoel
but with numerous small tubes passing through one or two chambers. Interiors of the
chambers are hollow or filled with vesiculae.
Type species: Polysiphonella insolita Belyaeva, 1991 (in Boiko et aL, 1991).
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	11
Belyaevaspongia insolita (Belyaeva, 1991)
(PI. 1, fig. 1-4, pi. 2, fig. 1-2, pi. 3, fig. 1/D, 2, 4)
1990 Polysiphonella insolita n. gen., n. sp. - Belyaeva (in Boiko et al., 1991),
p. 93-95, pl. 20, fig. 1-3.
1993 "Polysiphonella" insolita Belyaeva. - Senowbari-Daryan & Ingavat-
Helmcke, fig. 1/D, 4.
Description: The single or branched stems of this sponge reach a length of
more than 100 mm. The sponge is composed of several spherical or hemispherical
chambers arranged moniliforme, one above the other. Diameters of the chambers are
usually greater than their heights. According to Belyaeva the height of the
chambers is about 1/4 of the diameter. In our material diameters of the chambers
range between 6.5 and 15mm and heights of the chambers reach from 3.5 mm to
10 mm. The ratio of the chamber width/height is always more than 1 (text-fig. 4).
Chambers at branching points are very wide (see text-fig 4, stars in circles).
Outer segmentation of the sponge is well developed. The relatively thick chamber
wall of 0.5-1.2 mm is pierced by numerous single, unbranched pores about
0.2-0.3mm in diameter (according to Belyaeva 0.25-0.35mm).
Chamber interiors are either hollow and now filled with sparry calcite cement
and/or sediment, or some vesiculae occur within the chamber interiors. Spore-like
filling sturctures, as described by Belyeava for the holotype from the Southern
Pamir (but not recognizable in illustrated specimen(s) by the author), could not be
observed in our material from Thailand.
Fig. 4. Diagram showing the ratio of chamber height/chamber width in Belyaevaspongia
insolita (Belyaeva) from Phrae province, northern Thailand. The stars in circles indicate the
large diameter of the chambers on the branching points
12	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
An axial spongocoel that pass through the vahóle sponge is not developed (at least
in our material). Very typical for this sponge are several small tubes pass through one
or two chamber roofs. Chambers with 2 tubes were also be observed (pi. 1, fig. 2).
These tubes are usually situated in interwalls between chambers (chamber roofs).
Tubes in the outer wall (exowall) are rare but do occur (pi. 1, fig. 1). Outer diameters
of the tubes range from 1.2 to 3mm, and inner diameters from 0.7 to 1.3 mm.
According to Belyaeva diameters of the tubes range from 1.2 to 2.0mm. These
tubes are usually developed in the chamber wall at branching points (pi. 1, fig. 2-4).
Walls of the tubes are also pierced with pores if the same size as those in the chamber
walls. The tubes are of ambisiphonate type (sensu Sei la cher, 1962).
Occurrence: Belyaevaspongia insolita (Belyaeva) is known from the type
locality (Primoria, Far East) and now from the uppermost Permian of Phrae province,
Thailand. It seems to be an endemic sponge limited to the Middle and Eastern
Tethyan realm. It has not been observed in collection from the western part of the
Tethys. Belyaevaspongia insolita is the most abundant sphinctozoan sponge within
the investigated limestones of Phrae province in Thailand.
Genus Colospongia Laube, 1865
Diagnosis: see Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby, 1988.
Type species: Manon duòmm Münster, 1841.
Colospongia sp.
(Pl. 5, fig. 5, pl. 12, fig. 3B?)
Material: Two specimens.
Description: Spherical chambers of this sponge have heights of 5-6mm.
Diameters of the chambers range between 7 and 8 mm. A relatively thick chamber
wall (0.5-0.65mm) is pierced by uniform, unbranched pores approximately
0.15-0.20mm in diameter. Due to the coarse perforation of the chamber wall the
surface of the sponge is smooth. Interiors of chambers contain some vesiculae.
Remarks: All the species (about 25) of the genus Colospongia known before
1990 are listed in Senowbari-Daryan (1990, p. 65). Since then the following
species of Colospongia have been described by Boiko, Belyaeva and
Zhuravleva (in Boiko et al., 1991):
-	Colospongia arakeljani Zhuravleva, 1991.
-	Colospongia nachodkiensis Belyaeva, 1987 (Belyaeva, 1991, in Boiko et al.,
1991).
-	Colospongia globosa Belyaeva, 1991.
-	Colospongia composita Belyaeva, 1991.
-	Colospongia leveni Zhuravleva, 1991.
-	? Colospongia polytholosiaformis Boiko, 1991.
Colospongia is a sphinctozoan genus with relatively limited features. Therefore
determination of individual species is not easy and most of them are confused. The
genus Colospongia, like Amblysiphonella, should be revised carefully.
Determination of the Colospongia from Phrae province has not been carried to
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	13
species level because no completely preserved specimen was available. The two
specimens illustrated in pi. 5, fig. 5 and pi. 12, fig. 3B could belong to different
species.
Genus Tristratocoelia Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby, 1988
Diagnosis: see Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby, 1988.
Type species: Tristratocoelia rhythmica Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby, 1988.
Tristratocoelia rhythmica Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby, 1988
(PI. 10, fig. 1-2, text-fig. 5)
1988 Tristratocoelia rhythmica n. sp. - Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby., p.
189-190, pi. 29, fig. 5-6, 9, text-fig. 10).
1991 Tristratocoelia rhythmica Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby. - Senowbari-
Daryan and Rigby, p. 625, fig. 3.6, 3.7.
1993 Tristratocoelia rhythmica Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby, - Senowbari-
Daryan and Ingavat-Helmcke, fig. 5/A.
Material: One branched or two separate specimen(s) were divided by cutting
one of the samples. The sponges were investigated in two polished slabs.
Description: This tiny and curved sponge is at least 40mm long and is
composed of 5 barrel-like chambers. The chambers have a diameter of 5 mm and
a maximum height of 10 mm.
Fig. 5. Drawing of a section of Tristratocoelia rhythmica Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby,
exhibiting the chambers with some vesiculae and the thick and ring-like chamber roofs pierced
by pores (compare pi. 10, fig. 1). Scale 5 mm
14	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
The chamber walls are of varying thickness, in some areas up to 0.65 mm in others
only 0.12 mm. Because of recrystallization of the chamber walls neither the pores nor
the two-layered nature of the walls, as described by Senowbari-Daryan and
Rigby (1991, p. 625), could be recognized. However, some large ostia up to 0.7mm in
diameter pierce the segment walls. The chamber roofs, called ring chambers (RC) in
the original description by Senowbari-D aryan and Rigby (1988), are between
1.5 and 2.5mm thick and are pierced by several large and branched openings. The
chamber roofs are developed as a ring with a diameter that is larger than the
chambers.
Interiors of the chambers are filled with vesiculae. Vesiculae run in some cases
parallel to the chamber walls.
Occurrence: Until now Tristratocoelia rhythmica was known only from the
Upper Permian reefs in Djebel Tebaga, Tunisia (Senowbari-Daryan & Rigby,
1988, 1991). In the type locality only three specimens were found. Within the
investigated limestones of Phrae province only one branched(?) specimen or two
individual specimens have been found.
Family Intrasporeocoeliidae Fan and Zhang, 1985
Genus Intrasporeocoelia Fan and Zhang, 1985
Diagnosis: see Fan and Zhang, 1985: 17.
Type species: Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang, 1985.
Further species :
-	Intrasporeocoelia laxa Wu (1991: p. 82, pi. 11, fig. 2, 5).
-	Intrasporeocoelia orientalis Belyaeva 1991 (in Boiko et al., 1991: p. 95-96, pl. 19,
fig. 3-5).
-	Intrasporeocoelia robusta Belyaeva 1991 (in Boiko et al., 1991: p. 96, pl. 19, fig.
6-7).
Remarks: Our observations on Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang in
material from Tunisia, Sicily and now from Thailand indicate that the dimensions
and other features of this sponge vary greatly. Whether the small tubes that pass
through one or two chamber roofs, and the sparse spore-like structure within the
chamber interiors can not be used to establish additional species, as done e. g. by Wu
(1991). He proposed the new species Intrasporeocoelia laxa from the Middle Permian
Maokou Formation in Guangxi, China. As illustrated in pi. 3, fig. 1 the spore-like
filling structure occurs in some chambers but is totally lacking in other chambers of
the same specimen. We are doubtful about the identity of the listed species of
Intrasporeocoelia descreibed by Wu (1991) or Belyaeva 1991 (in Boiko et al.,
1991).
Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang, 1985
(PI. 3, fig. 1/A, PI. 4, fig. 2-5)
1985 Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis n. g., n. sp. - Fan and Zhang, p. 18, pi. 7,
fig. 4, 8 (non 6).
1990 Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang, - Senowbari-Daryan,
p. 101, pi. 33, figs. 3-5 (see for complete synonymy).
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	15
1991 Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang. - Senowbari-Daryan and
Rigby, fig. 3.3-3.5.
1991 Preverticillites columnella Parona. - Flügel, Di Stefano and Senow-
bari-Daryan, pl. 46, fig. 3.
1991 Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang, - Wu, p. 82, pi. 10, fig. 13,
pi. 13, fig. 1.
1993 Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang. - Senowbari-Daryan and
Ingavat-Helmcke, fig. 4/A.
Description: Usually single or rarely branched (pi. 2, fig. 1) specimens of this
cylilndrical or subcylindrical sponge range in the material from Thailand to lengths
of more than 170mm and to diameters of 30 mm. However, large specimens up to
42 mm in diameter have been reported from Upper Permian reef limestones of Djebel
Tebaga, Southern Tunisia (Senowbari-Daryan & Rigby, 1991, p. 623). Outer
segmentation of the sponge is absent or poorly developed, but the internal segmenta-
tion is clearly recognizable.
The sponge is composed of several crescent-like chambers, each 3-10 mm high in
the central part of the sponge.
Chamber walls are distinct from the internal filling structure in thin section and
polished slabs. They appear dark and are massive. Chamber interwalls are usually
1-1.5 mm thick and pierced by equally distributed pores with diameters of
0.2-0.8mm. Because younger chambers overlap older ones, the exowall is thicker
than the endowall. It has a thickness of up to 2.5mm (pi. 4, fig. 2, 4).
Chamber interiors are filled by densely packed spherical - appearing filling
structures, called "spore-like" structures by Fan and Zhang (1985: 17-18) and
described in detail from Chinese material by Rigby et al. (1988). Because of
recrystallization of the filling structures, individual "spores" can not be easily
recognized.
Occurrence: Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang was reporterd from
several Middle and Upper Permian localities in China (Fan & Zhang, 1985, 1986;
Fan et al., 1987; Rigby et al., 1988, 1989; Wu, 1991), from Middle Permian reef
boulders of Pietra de Salamone, Western Sicily (Senowbari-Daryan, 1990;
Flügel et al., 1991: pl. 46, fig. 3; named Preverticillites columnella Parona), from
Upper Permian reef limestones of Djebel Tebaga, Southern Tunisia (Senowbari-
Daryan & Rigby, 1991), from the Upper Permian of Pamir (Belyaeva: in
Boiko at al., 1991), from the Upper Permian of Oman (unpublished material) and
now from the Upper Permian of Phrae province of Thailand. Intrasporeocoelia
hubeiensis, with Belyaevaspongia insolita, is one of the most abundant species among
the "sphinctozoan" sponges within the investigated limestones. Generally the fre-
quency of Intrasporeocoelia in Permian reefs in the eastern Tethys (China, Thailand)
is much higher than in the reefs of the western Tethyan realm (Tunisia, Sicily;
compare Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby, 1991, p. 624).
Family Sebargasiidae Laubenfels, 1955
Subfamily Cystothalamiinae Girty, 1908
Genus Discosiphonella Inai, 1936
Diagnosis: see Senowbari-Daryan (1990, p. 56).
16	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Type species: Discosiphonella manchuriensis Inai, 1936.
Rem arks: The genera Discosiphonella Inai, Cystauletes King, Ascosymplegma
Rauff and Lichuanospongia Zhang, and consequently the families Cystothalamiidae
Girty (1908) and Stromatocoeliidae Fan and Zhang (1985) were synonymized
with Sebargasiidae Steimann (1882) by Senowbari-Daryan (1990). Bely-
aeva (in Boiko et al., 1991, p. 102) introduced the new family Cystauletidae, with
type genus Cytauletes King (1943). Wu (1991, p. 87) also introduced the family name
Cystauletidae but without giving a diagnosis of the family and choosing a type genus.
First we want to give the name Cystauletidae Belyaeva (non Cystauletidae Wu)
priority because she named the type genus and defined the family Cystauletidae.
However, the genus Cystauletes King (1943) was synonymised with Discosiphonella
Inai (1936) by Senowbari-Daryan (1990).
Concerning establishment of the family Cystauletidae and its membership (see
Senowbari-Daryan, 1990; Belyaeva, in Boiko et al., 1991; the new genus
Squamella established by Belyaeva seems to be identical with the genus
Imbricatocoelia Rigby et al., 1989) could exist differences of opinion but we think
that relationships of genera within the family Sebargasiidae and "Cystauletidae"
{sensu Belyaeva) are very close and that they should be included in a single family. Of
course the classification of Senowbari-Daryan (1990) is used in this paper.
All the species of the genera Discosiphonella (including Ascosymplegma Rauff
1938, Cystauletes King 1943 and Lichuanospongia Zhang, 1983) are listed in
Senowbari-Daryan (1990, p. 57). Belyaeva (in Boiko et al., 1991) has
described two (three) new species of the genus "Cystauletes" as "C." primoriensis (p.
105), ? "C." squamilis (p. 104) and "C." bzhebsi (p. 165-166). In addition a new species
of the genus "Lichuanospongia" ("L."primorica" was established by the same author.
Within the investigated limestones of Phrae province, the genus Discosiphonella
is represented by a small and poorly preserved species described below:
Discosiphonella sp.
(PI. 2, fig. 5-6, pi. 6, fig. 2/B?, 3)
1993 Discosiphonella sp. - Senowbari-Daryan and Ingavat-Helmcke,
fig. D/C.
Description: Stems of this sponge have a maximum diameter of 3—4mm. The
small spherical chambers, with diameters of 1-2 mm, are arranged in one layer
around an axial spongocoel, which is up to 1 mm in diameter. Chamber interiors are
hollow and no vesiculae were observed. The specimen illustrated in pi. 6, fig. 3 shows
that the chambers are connected to the axial spongocoel by large openings, about
0.12 mm in diameter. The chamber walls, as well as the wall of spongocoel, are
relatively thick (0.2-0.3 mm). Because almost all the specimens are recrystallized
perforations of the wall can not be recognized and exact sizes of pores in the chamber
wall can not given. This sponge is not abundant in the investigated limestones.
Remarks: Representatives of the genus Discosiphonella (including the genera
Cystauletes, Ascosymplegma and Lichuanospongia) with their dimensions and other
morphological features are listed in Senowbari-Daryan (1990, p. 58). Our
species from Phrae province is differentiated from all other known species listed in
Senowbari-Daryan (1990) by the extremely small dimensions of the sponge, its
chambers and other elements.
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	17
Dimensions of the specimens from Thailand are almost the same as those of
? "Cystauletes" squamilis and "Cystauletes"primoriensis described by Belyaeva (in
Boiko et al., 1991, p. 104-106) and perhaps represent one of those species.
Subfamily Cystothalamiinae Girty, 1990
Genus Cystothalamia Girty, 1908
Diagnosis: see Senowbari-D ary an (1990, p. 54).
Type species: Cystothalamia nodulifera Girty, 1908.
Cystothalamia? sp.
(PI. 2, fig. 3)
Description: As illustrated in pi. 2, fig. 3, this sponge is composed of numerous
spherical chambers in a polyglomerate (in several layers) arrangment around a spon-
gocoel(?). The sponge has a length of 15 mm and a diameter of 5 mm in its upper part.
Individual chambers have inner diameters of 0.25-0.8mm. The chamber walls are
0.05-0.1 mm thick. Chamber interiors are hollow; no vesiculae nor other filling
structures are developed. Because of recrystallization of the sponge skeleton, no
pores could be recognized in the chamber walls. It is also possible that this sponge
belongs to the aporate sphinctozoans (Glomocystospongia). Only one specimen of this
sponge has been found.
Family Deningeriidae Boiko (in Boiko et al., 1991)
Discussion: Boiko (in Boiko et al., 1991) established the family Dening-
eriidae with the following diagnosis:
"Colonies catenulate, chambers subspherical, filling skeleton reticular, formation
of the siphon is asiphonate or retrosiphonate".
Engeser (1986) had earlier proposed the family Solenolmiidae for all segmented
sponges with a reticular filling skeleton and the retrosiphonate type of siphon (see
Senowbari-Daryan, 1990). It would be practical to limit the family Dening-
eriidae to those genera without any spongocoel but with a reticular filling skeleton.
The following described sponge is without siphon but possesses a filling skeleton of
reticular type.
Genus Ambithalamia n. gen.
Derivatio nominis: Ambiguus (lat. =) indistinct. Because of poor and indis-
tinct segmentation.
Diagnosis: Cylindrical, seldom branching sponge without a spongocoel. Outer
as well as internal segmentation is poorly developed. Chamber roofs(?) or the growth
lines(?) are marked by very thin and fine perforated lines. The interior of the
chambers or the internal skeleton of the sponge is composed of relatively regular
fibers of reticular type.
Type species: Ambithalamia pérmica n. sp.
18	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Ambithalamia pérmica n. sp.
(Pl. 5, fig. 4/C, pl. 6, fig. 4/C, pl. 7, fig. 1/В, 3/В, 4, pl. 10, l/C, 2/В, pl. 11, fig. 1, 2/C,
3/В, 4, pl. 12, fig. 2/A, 3/A, pl. 13, fig. 3/B, 4/A, 5/B)
1993 "Inozoa"? gen. et. sp. indet. - Senowbari-Daryan and Ingavat-
Helmcke, fig. 5/A/d.
Derivatio nominis: Named for the occurrence of the sponge in Permian
limestones.
Holotype: As holotype we choose the specimen marked with "H" in pi. 7, fig. 4.
(R6).
Locus typicus: Outcrup in the small creek, located approximately 650 m north
of the highway between Phrae and Amphoe Long, northern Thailand (see text-fig.
1-2).
Stratum typicum: Upper Permian (Dorashamian).
Material : Numerous specimens in several polished slabs.
Diagnosis: See diagnosis of the genus.
Description: This cylindrical and rarely branched sponge reaches a length of
more than 25 mm and usually has a diameter of 3-4 mm. The sponge displays
indistinct segmentation which is developed poorly in some specimens (e. g. pi. 7, fig.
3/B, pi. 11, fig. 3/B), but relatively well in others (e. g. pi. 7, fig. 4, pi. 11, fig. 1-2).
Both outer and internal segmentation is hardly recognizable.
The holotype (pi. 7, fig. 4/H) is represented by and oblique section which, like
other specimens in pi. 7, fig. 4, shows relatively well developed segmentation.
Chambers range in shape from crescent-like to hemispherical. The segment roofs,
which look like a thin cortex, are very thin (approximately 0.05mm) and pierced by
very small pores about 0.05mm in diameter. Heights of segments ranges in the
holotype from 0.5 to 1.3 mm, but has greater variation in other specimens. Interiors of
the segments are filled with relatively regular reticular fiber structures. The fibers
are approximately 0.1mm thick.
Some specimens (e. g. pi. 7, fig. 3, 4: in the middle part, pi. 12, fig. 3) exhibit large,
spongocoel-like, "openings" that have a peripheral position. We interprete these
openings as activities of boring organisms.
Occurrence: Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp. is one of the most abundant
sphinctozan sponges in the investigated limestones. More than 100 specimens have
been cut in several polished slabs.
Family Phragmocoliidae? Ott, 1974
Thalamid sponge gen. et sp. indet
(PI. 10, fig. 1/B, pi. 12, fig. 1/A)
Material: Three specimens in polished slab R7.
Description: The largest specimen (pi. 12, fig. 1/A: in the right corner) reaches
a maximum diameter of 2 mm and a length of 10 mm. It is composed of 5 chambers
with heights between 1.5 and 2.5mm. A spongocoel, with a diameter to 1.2 mm, passes
throught the sponge. Chamber walls are 0.05mm thick, but because of strong
recrystallization the pores or ostia in the walls are not preserved. The most charac-
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	19
teristic feature of the sponge is the sept-like filling structure subdividing chamber
interiors into bubble-like small units.
Remarks: This sponge is most probably a representative of a new genus, but we
describe it here only as gen. et sp. indet. Only three poorly preserved specimens are
available. The most characteristic feature of this tiny sponge are the sept-like
elements within the chamber interiors, like those occurring within the family Phrag-
mocoeliidae Ott (1974). Only two genera have been placed into this family: the
Devonian genus Radiothalamos Pickett and Rigby (1983) and the Triassic genus
Phragmocoelia Ott (1974). Sponges with radially arranged and sept-like elements
within chamber interiors have not been known from Permian deposits until now.
Suborder Aporata Seilacher, 1962
Family Thaumastocoeliidae Ott, 1967
Subfamily Thaumastocoeliinae Senowbari-Daryan, 1990
Genus Sollasia Steinmann, 1882
Diagnosis: see Senowbari-Daryan (1990).
Type species: Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann, 1882.
Further species: All species of Sollasia, known before 1990, are listed in
Senowbari-Daryan (1990: p. 128). Since then only one species - S. arta - has
been described by Belyaeva, 1991 (in: Boiko et al., 1991) from the Upper Permian
of the Far East.
Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann, 1882
(Pl. 3, fig. 1/C, pi. 4, fig. 1/B, pi. 6, fig. 4/A, 6, pi. 12, fig. 1/B)
1882 Sollasia ostiolata n. sp. - Steinmann, p. 151-152, pi. 7, fig. 3.
1990	Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann. - Senowbari-Daryan, p. 128, pi. 43, fig. 7,
pi. 45, fig. 4, 8, pi. 56, fig. 9, text-fig. 47 (synonymy-list).
1991	Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann. - Wu, p. 85, pi. 10, fig. 1, pi. 11, fig. 4.
1991 Soííasza osizoZata Steinmann. - Belyaeva (in Boiko et al., 1991), p. 62, pi. 7,
fig. 2-4, pi. 8, fig. 1-5, pi. 9, fig. 1-3.
Description: Diameter of this moniliform sponge ranges greatly. In the inves-
tigated material diameters of specimens range between 3 and 8 mm, but larger
specimens, up to 15 mm are known from Permian reefs of Djebel Tebaga, Tunisia
(Senowbari-Daryan & Rigby, 1988). The individual chambers are spherical or
barrel-sahped and reach heights of up to 7 mm. Exowalls and endowalls of chambers
are pierced by large ostia (pl. 6, fig. 4, 6). Diameters of ostia depend on diameters of
the sponges. Usually the small specimens have small ostia and larger specimens have
relatively larger ones. Vesiculae were not observed within chamber interiors.
Occurrence: Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann is a cosmopolitian thalamid sponge,
occurring in several Carboniferous and Permian localities in Western Tethys (Spain,
Sicily, Slovenia, Tunisia, Oman) and Eastern Tethys (the Far East, China, Kam-
botscha), as well as in the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas and New Mexiko (Senow-
bari-Daryan, 1990). In Sicily (Senowbari-Daryan & Di Stefano, 1988)
20	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
and especially in Djebel Tebaga, Tunisia (S e n o w b a Г i - D a ry a n & Rigby, 1988)
it is a very abundant thalamid sponge. In the investigated limestone from Phrae
province, however, Sollasia is a relatively rare sponge.
Sollasia spheroida Rigby, Fan and Zhang, 1989
(PI. 2, fig. 7, pi. 5, fig. 1?, 2, 4, pi. 7, fig. 2/B)
1989a Sollasia spheroida n. sp. - Rigby, Fan & Zhang, p. 438, fig. 19.7-19.9,
20.7-20.9).
Description: Diameters of this species range between 5 and 11mm and
thicknesses of chamber walls range between 0.5 and 0.7mm. The chamber wall is
pierced by large ostia 0.35-0.5 mm in diameter. Interiors of chambers are filled with
vesiculae.
Subfamily Enoplocoeliinae Senowbari-Daryan, 1990
Genus Girtyocoelia Cossman, 1909
Diagnosis: see Senowbari-Daryan, 1990: 130.
Type species: Heterocoelia beedei Girty, 1908.
Girtyocoelia beedei (Girty, 1908)
(PL 7, fig. 1, pi. 8, fig. 3?pL 9, fig. 2)
1908 Heterocoelia beedei n. sp. - Girty, S. 248, Taf. 14, fig. 1-8.
1990 Girtyocoelia beedei (Girty). - Senowbari-Daryan, p. 130-131, pi. 45, fig.
1-3, 5-7, text-fig. 48 (synonymy-list).
? 1991 Girtyocoelia CÎ. beedei (Girty). - Belyaeva (in Boiko et al., 1991), p. 61, pl.
6, fig. 1-3, pl. 7, fig. 1.
Description: Only two (three?) specimens of this certainly very rare sponge
were found within the investigated limestones. Both of them are 5.5 mm in diameter,
a little smaller than the diameter of this species from other localities (compare
Senowbari-Daryan & Di Stefano, 1988). The axial spongocoel has an inner
diameter of 1mm. Chamber walls, as well as the wall of the spongocoel, are
0.22-0.4mm thick and are pierced by ostia with an inner diameter of 0.3mm. Ostia
typically display the short exaules, as known in Girtyocoelia beedei from other
localities.
Occurrence: Girtyocoelia beedei is known from numerous Carboniferous and
Permian localities in the USA (Guadalupe- and Glass Mountains in Texas and New
Mexico), and from several localities of the Western and Southern Tethys (Europe:
Sicily, Spain, Alps; Africa: Tunisia; Oman, the Far East). The genus Girtyocoelia has
not been reported from the Permian reefs of southeastern Asia (China or other
localities). Sponges, described as Girtyocoelia markamensis by Deng (1982) from the
Permian reefs of China, has perforated chamber walls and does not belong to the
genus Girtyocoelia (see Senowbari-Daryan, 1990, p. 131). The discovery of
Girtyocoelia beedei in Phrae province indicates an occurrence of the genus and
species within the Permian reef limestones of the eastern part of the Tethys.
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	21
Genus Phraethalamia n. gen.
Derivatio nominis: From Phrae province and thalamos ( = chamber).
Diagnosis: Aporate thalamid sponge w^ith two or more axial spongocoels and
ring-like chambers. Numerous, occasionally dichotomous, branched tubes extend
from the spongocoel wall into the hollow chambers. Chamber interiors without
vesiculae and filling structure.
Type species: Phraethalamia tubulara n. sp.
Discussion: The chamber shape, arrangment of the chambers and, perhaps,
also the ostia on the chamber wall in the new genus are similar or identical to
Girtyocoelia Cossman. Phraethalamia differs, however, from Girtyocoelia by posses-
sion of two or more axial spongocoels and by the distinct tubes which run from the
spongocoel wall into the hollow chambers. Such tubes are known from the Permian
demospongid genus Pseudoamblysiphonella Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby
(1988) and from the calcispongid sponge Barroisia lehmanni described from Cretace-
ous deposits of northern Germany by Hilmer and Senowbari-Daryan (1986).
Both of those genera belong to the porate sphinctozoans and both of them have
perforated walls. However, a sponge like Phraethalamia is not known within the
aporate sphinctozoans.
Phraethalamia tubulara n. sp.
(PL 3, fig. 1/B, pi. 4, fig. 1, pi. 11, fig. 2/A, 3/A, text-fig. 6)
1993 Girtyocoelia? sp. - Senowbari-Daryan and Ingavat-Helmcke,
fig. 4/A.
Derivatio nominis: Named for the distinct tubes that extend from the
spongocoel wall into the chamber interiors.
Holotype: Longitudinal section illustrated in pi. 3, fig. 1/B and the enlargment
from the same specimen illustrated in pi. 4, fig. 1.
Locus typicus: Small creek ca. 650 m north of the highway between Phrae and
Amphoe long (see text-fig. 1-2).
Stratum typicum: Upper Permian (Dorashamian).
Diagnosis: See diagnosis of the genus.
Material: Two or four (?) specimens.
Description: The holotype of Phraethalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp. is weath-
ered out in the sample illustrated in pi. 3, fig. 1. An enlargment of it is shown in pi. 4,
fig. 1 (see text-fig. 6). The specimen has a length of 45 mm and a diameter of 7 mm. It
is composed of 6 spherical chambers with lengths of 7-8 mm. Two relatively wide
axial tubes (spongocoels), with diameters of 1.25 or 1.6 mm, run vertically through
the whole sponge. These tubes are connected to others by large openings, as shown in
text-fig. 6. Connection between axial canals and surrounding chambers are made by
some small tubes that may branch dichotomously within the chambers (see text-fig.
6). The diameter of the tubes is approximately 0.35mm in diameter.
One of the paratypes (pi. 11, fig. 3/A) seen in a longitudinal section is composed of
three (four) globular and ring-like chambers with diameters of 5.5-7.5mm. Chambers
have heights of 6-7 mm. All other features of this specimen correspond completely to
22
Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Fig. 6. Drawing of a thin section of Phraethalamia tubulara n. gen.,
n. sp. The spherical chambers exhibit imperforate walls. Some tubes
extend from the spongocoel wall into the chamber interiors. Two,
relatively wide and axial spongocoels pass vertically through the
sponge. Scale 5mm
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	23
those of the holotype. Interiors of the spongocoels show additionally secreted skele-
ton which were not observed in the holotype.
Two other paratypes (pi. 11, fig. 2/A), which can not be identified with certainty,
are only seen in cross or oblique sections.
"Inozoa"
The term "Inozoa" was introcuced by Steinmann (1882) for those fossil sponges
which have a calcareous rigid skeleton and - in contrast to "sphinctozoa" - no
segmentation. Most post-Triassic inozoans have a spicular skeleton of primary
calcite composition (Hurcewics, 1975). In representatives of Triassic and
Paleozoic inozoans no such spicular skeleton has been found to date. The group of
sponges, called the "inozoa", is - like "sphinctozoa" - of polyphyletic nature. It
seems likely that the Triassic and Paleozoic inozoans belong to a completely different
group than the post-Triassic representatives.
The classification of post-Triassic "inozoan" sponges is based on the composition,
shape and arrangement of the spicular skeleton (Wagner, 1964; Hurcewicz,
1975; Müller, 1984). However, a generally accepted classification for Triassic and
pre-Triassic "inozoan" sponges is still needed. The classifications of Dieci et al.
(1968), Russo (1981), Biz z ar ini and Russo (1986) is based on the canal system for
water circulation and has included only a part of known Triassic "inozoans". This
classification scheme was used by Rigby et al. (1989 b) to describe the Permian
inozoan sponges from China. Wu (1991) was influenced by the classification of
Rigby et al. (1989) and used the outline of that classification to propose a new
classification for inozoan sponges. This classification is also based only on a part of
the Permian material (Permian "inozoans" of China), is to much too theoretical, and
does not take consider relationship of closely related genera into consideration. For
example, "inozoans" described from other localities, were not included by Wu. The
mineralogie composition (calcite, Mg-calcite, or aragonite) and the microstructure of
the rigid skeleton were also disregarded. Taxa described by Wu (1991) are poorly
documented and his description and illustrations of almost all species make it
difficult for other workers. Despite efforts by Wu (1991) the classification of Dieci
et al. (1968), which is based on the type of canal system and which was followed by
others (especially Rigby et al., 1989, and Wu 1991) seems to be most useful in
classifying the "inozoan" sponges.
"Inozoa" in the investigated limestones from Phrae province are limited to only
a few genera. However, they are the second most important reef builders in the
investigated limestones, following the "sphinctozoans".
Order Pharetronda Zittel, 1878
Suborder Inozoa Steinmann, 1882
Family Peronidellidae Wu 1991
Genus Peronidella Hinde, 1893
(pro Peronella Zittel, 1878)
Diagnosis: see Zittel, 1878: 120.
Type species: Spongia pistilliformis Mouroux, 1821
24	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Peronidella sp.
(Pl. З" fig. 3, pl. 6, fig. 5, 7/В, pl. 9, fig. 3-4)
Description: Single specimens of this species range in diameter from 2 to
6 mm. An axial spongocoel, with diameters of 1-2 mm (30-40 % of the whole sponge),
passes through each sponge. The relatively loose reticular fiberous structure has
elements approximately 0.2-0.3 mm thick. The skeleton is strongly recrystallized.
Peronidella is not abundant in the investigated limestones.
Remarks: More than 30 species of Peronidella have been described in the
literature (see Z i 11 e 1, 1878; Hurcewicz, 1975). Most of these description concern
Triassic to Cretaceous taxa. The following species of Peronidella have been described
from Permian strata:
-	Peronidella baloghi Flügel, 1973
-	Peronidella beipeiensis Rigby, Fan and Zhang, 1989
-	Peronidella gravida Wu, 1991
-	Peronidella labiaformis Wu, 1991
-	Peronidella minicoeliaca Wu, 1991
-	Peronidella recta Hinde, 1893 (in Wu 1991)
-	Peronidella recta grossa, Wu 1991
-	Peronidella regulara Rigby, Fan and Zhang, 1989
-	Peronidella rigbyi Senowbari-Daryan (=pro Peronidella parva Rigby, Fan and
Zhang, non Peronidella parva Nutzubidze 1964, see Senowbari-Daryan,
1991).
Most of these species, especially those described by Wu (1991), are described
using only one or two cross sections and without emphasizing the differences from
the other known Peronidella of Permian age. A complete revision of the genus
Peronidella is necessary.
Genus Bisiphonella Wu, 1991
Diagnosis: see Wu (1991, p. 60).
Type species: Bisiphonella cylindrata Wu, 1991.
Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp.
(PI. 5, fig. 2/C, 3; pi. 6, fig. 1, 2/A, 7/A, pi. 7. fig, 1/C, 2/A, 3/A, pi. 8, fig. 1-2, 4-6, pi.
11, fig. 2/B? pi. 12, fig. 2/C, 3/C, pi. 13, fig. 2/B, 3/A, 8)
1993 "Inozoa"? gen. et. sp. indet. - Senowbari-Daryan and Ingavat-
Helmcke, fig. 5/A/C.
Derivatio nominis: Named for the short tubes (exaulos-like) which pass
from the spongocoel wall into the interior of the chambers (see pi. 8, fig. 2).
Holotype: Longitudinal section in pi. 8, fig. 2A (half of the holotype is figured
in pi. 8, fig. 4/B and is connected by lines with fig. 2/A of the same plate).
Locus typicus: Small creek, approximately 650m north of kilometer 171.5 on
the highway between Phrae and Amphoe Long (see text-fig. 1-2).
Stratum typicum: Upper Permian (Dorashamian).
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	25
Material: Several thin sections and polished slabs.
Diagnosis: Cylindrical sponge with two spongocoels of the same size that
extend vertically through the axial region of the sponge. The spongocoels possess
their own walls, but there is a common wall between the two spongocoels. A loose
fiberous structure is developed between the outer wall and the wall of the spon-
gocoels. Numerous openings with short tube-like walls lead to the spogocoels from
the surrounding and loosely packed fiberous skeletal structure. The outer surface of
the sponge is rough and has a spiny appearance.
Differential diagnosis: Follows description of the species.
Description: This cylindrical and single sponge reaches a length of more than
35 mm and a diameter of up to 6 mm. The holotype in the polished slab (pi. 8, fig.
1/A-4/B) has a length of 35 mm and a diameter of 4 mm. Two spongocoels of the same
size, each approximately 1 mm in diameter, pass vertically through the sponge. The
diameter of the spongocoels is relatively constant. In paratypes it ranges between
0.75 and 1.1mm. The spongocoels have their own walls that are approximately
0.15-0.2 mm thick. The common wall between the spongocoels has the same thick-
ness. The space between the outer wall of the sponge and the wall of the spongocoels
is filled with loose radially arranged fiberous structures. The space between the
radially arranged fibers appears to be small tubes that extend from the walls of the
spongocoels (pi. 8, fig. 2). The spongocoels and interspaces between the surrounding
fiberous structures are connected by openings with diameters of approximately
0.1-0.2 mm. Such openings show short exaulos-like tubes (pi. 6, fig. 2). The outer
surface of the sponge is rough and appears to be covered by spine-like elements in the
thin section (see pi. 5, fig. 1-2, 7, pi. 6, fig. 4).
Remarks: Bisiphonella tubulara is the most abundant inozoan sponge in the
investigated limestones of Phrae province. More than 50 specimens were observed in
the polished slabs and thin sections.
Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. differs from the type species of the genus
- Bisiphonella cylindrata Wu (it seems that two sponges with different fiberous
skeletal structures have been included to the same species by Wu) - by the type of
fiberous skeletal structure (reticular in B. cylindrata, but radial in B. tubulara), by
the spongocoels having its own wall, by openings with exaulos like tubes within the
wall, and by the rough (in thin section spiny appearing) surface of the sponge. In
addition to these, the wall between the spongocoels in the type species is relatively
thick and has the same recicular fiber structure as the surrounding wall, however in
the new species the wall is thin and massive (not porous like in the type species) (see
pi. 5, fig. 7. pi. 6, fig. 2, 5).
Family unceartain
Genus Solutossaspongia n. gen.
Derivatio nominis: Solutus (lat. =) loose, ossa (lat. =) skeleton. Because of the
loose fiber skeleton in the interior of the sponge.
Diagnosis: Cylindrical and unbranched sponges, each with a distinct thick
outer wall. Teh skeleton interior of each sponge is composed of loose reticular fibers.
Sponge lacks a spongocoel.
Discussion: Wu (1991) established the superfamily Acoelioidea and the family
Acoeliidae for those Chinese Permian inozoan sponges which have neither distinct
26	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
inhalant and exhalant canals nor a spongocoel. He did not take into consideration
other known inozoan sponges without canals.
The type genus of the family Acoeliidae, Acoelia Wu and the type species A. rudia
Wu, were described using only one thin section, which could also be a marginal
section of any number of other inozoid sponges. Also, the description of the genus,
Ramospongia Wu, which belongs to the same family, is documented using with
a section which could be a piece of other inozoid sponge, as well. Because of the
totally insufficient descriptions and illustrations of both genera we are not able to
follow the author in describing our sponges. The genus described here differs from
Wu's acoeliid "genera" by its distinct thick outer wall and by the loosely packed
fiberous skeletal structure in the inside of the sponge.
Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. sp.
(PI. 5, fig. 2/D, pi. 7, fig. 1/C, 3/C, pi. 12, fig. 2/B, 4, pi. 13, fig. 2/A, 3/C, 5/A, 6, 7)
Derivatio nominis: Named for the thick outer wall of the sponge.
Holotype: Longitudinal section in pi. 13, fig. 3 (R5).
Locus typicus: Outcrop in the small creek, located approximately 650 m north
of kilometer 17.6 on the highway between Phrae and Amphoe Long (see text-fig. 1-2).
Stratum typicum: Upper Permian (Dorashamian).
Material : Numerous specimens in several polished slabs.
Diagnosis: See diagnosis of the genus.
Description: The stems of this sponge usually have diameters of 3-5mm and
lengths of up to several centimeters. The holotye (pi. 13, fig. 3) has a diameter of 4 mm
and a length of 15 mm. The most characteristic feature of this sponge in the thick
outer wall, which has a thickness of 1 mm in the holotype and ranges between 0.4 mm
and 1.3 mm in the paratypes. The outer wall is pierced by large openings which can be
observed in only some of the specimens (pi. 13, fig. 2A). The diameter of the openings
is approximately 1mm. The interior of the sponge is characterized by a loosely
packed fiberous structure of reticular type. The thickness of the fibers is approxi-
mately 0.3 mm. An orientation of the fibers parallel to the axis of the sponge can be
observed in some specimens (pi. 12, fig. 4).
Remarks: The fiber structure of Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp. is
similar to that of Bisiphonella tubulara. Marginal sections of Bisiphonella tubulara
could be mistaken for longitudinal sections of S. crassimuralis, but they may be
distinguished by the thick outer wall in the latter sponge.
Inozoan sponge gen. et sp. indet
(PL 11, fig, 4, pi. 12. fig. 1/D, pi. 13, fig. 1)
Material : Numerous specimens in several polished slabs.
Description: The stems of this inozoan are single or branched dichotomously
(pi. 13, fig. 1), and they reache diameters of up to 10mm and lengths of more than
50 mm. Stems are composed of relatively regularly arranged fiberous skeleton of
reticular type. The thickness of the fibers is approximately 0.08mm. Fibers on the
exterior surface are finer than those in the interior of the sponge. A spongocoel and
inhalant and exhalant canals are absent. Cross sections of some specimens, however.
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	27
show some radially arranged small canals that are produced by the radial arrange-
ment of the fiber structures (pi. 11, fig. 11).
Remarks: This sponge includes the largest inozoan sponge in the investigated
limestones. It has an appearance similar to Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp., but
differs from it by a lack of coarse segmentation, by having fine and regular fiberous
skeletal structure and by its large dimensions.
Sclerospongea
After the "sphinctozoans" and "inozoans", the sclerosponges are the third most
abundant sponges as well as the third-most important reef organisms in the investi-
gated limestones. A detailed determination of the sclerosponges was not carried out
because:
a)	most of them are poorly preserved and,
b)	a generally accepted classification of Permian sclerosponges (chaetetids) has not
been established.
The most abundant genus of sclerosponges is illustrated in pi. 5, fig. 1/B, 5/B, pi. 9,
fig. 5-7, pi. 12, fig. 1/C. This sponge is characterized by tubes with diameters of
0.3-0.5mm, that diverge form the axis toward the periphery of the stems. Internal
parts of nearly all of the specimens are recrystallized (pi. 5, fig. 1/B, pi. 9, fig. 6-7).
Hexactinellida
Hexactinellid sponges are not abundant in the investigated limestones. Most of
them were either largely destroyed or the silicification of the sediment between the
hexactinellid lattice caused the disappearance of that skeletal structure. Only a few
specimens are relatively well preserved where the hexactinellid lattice can be
recognized (pi. 6, fig. 4/B, pi. 9, fig. 7). However, the determination of hexactinellids
to genus or other categories is not possible in our thin sections.
Other organisms
In addition the sponges noted above, some bryozoans (the genus Polypora is most
abundant), algae? (some red algae are preserved, but green algae were not found),
abundant echinoderms, gastropods, brachiopods, Tubiphytes obscurus Maslov, and
small foraminifers were found. It should be emphasized that corals and fusulinid
foraminifers, as well as encrusting organisms, are completely missing. Archae-
lithoporella, an encrusting organism (binder) which is usually abundant in other
Permian reefs or reefal limestones, is also completely absent in the investigated
limestones. The small foraminifers are represented by Geinitzina ex. gr. G. postcar-
bonica, Geinitzina cf. G. taurica, Geinitzina sp., Protonodosaria sp., Hemigordius sp.,
and Colaniella ex. gr. C. parva. According to Jenney-Deshusses and Baud
(1989) the occurrence of Colaniella ex gr. parva indicates an uppermost Permian age
(Dorashamian) for the investigated limestones.
28	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Microfacies types
Matrix between organisms in the investigated samples is micritic. Abundant
organic detritus is imbedded in the micritic sediment. All of the limestones are
bafflestones in which sponges and some bryozoans functioned as bafflers. The
complete absence of spary matrix, green algae (e. g. dasycladaceans), as well as of
fusulinid foraminifers, indicates relatively deep water for the environment of
accumulation (deeper than wave-base, maybe deeper than the photic zone). The
absence of encrusting organisms, like Archaeolithoporella, could indicate that the
rate of sedimentation was too high and that these organisms could not exist in this
environment.
Comparision
Compared to other Permian reef or reefal limestones of the world, we conclude
that the diversity of organisms of the investigated Upper Permian limestones of
Phrae province in northern Thailand is not high, but, as mentioned above, we are sure
that intensive field collection will greatly increase the number of taxa.
The most important organisms in the reefal limestones of Phrae province are the
sponges. The most important group is the "sphinctozoans", followed by "inozoans"
and sclerosponges, respectively.
Belyaevaspongia insolita is the most abundant sphinctozoid sponge. It has been
described before now only from the Permian of the Far East by Belyaeva (in
Boiko et al., 1991). The lack of Belyaevaspongia in relatively well investigated
Permian localities in the western part of the Tethys (Tunisia, Sicily, Alps) indicates
that this sponge is limited to the eastern parts of the Tethyan realm.
The next most abundant genus is Intrasporeocoelia, which also occurs in Permian
reefs of the Western Tethys (Sicily, Tunisia, Oman), but it is apparently a more
abundant sponge in Permian reefs in China. Intrasporeocoelia is an endemic sponge
of Middle and Upper Permian reefs and its present ranges is limited to the Tethyan
realm. It is not known from the Permian reefs of the Guadalupe Mountains in North
America.
The genera Sollasia, Girtyocoelia and Discosiphonella are cosmopolitian sponges
and they occur with abundances that vary in many Carboniferous and Permian
localities of the world. The absence of Amblysiphonella is remarkable, but it is
a cosmopolitian sponge like Sollasia or Girtyocoelia which occur in nearly all
Carboniferous or Permian reef localities of the world. Certainly Amblysiphonella
seems to be a most abundant sphinctozoan sponge in Permian reefs in the eastern
part of the Tethys (China), but is lacking in Phrae province. The two new described
genera - Phraethalamia and Ambithalamia - are not yet known from other localities.
Among the "inozoans" the genus Bisiphonella is the most abundant genus within
the investigated limestones, followed by Solutossaspongia and Peronidella.
Bisiphonella, described first from the Upper Permian reefs of China, occurs also in
the Permian reefs in western Tethys (unpublished material). Peronidella, however, is
a cosmopolitian sponge and occurs in many Carboniferous and Permian reefs in the
western Tethyan realm. The number of "inozoan" genera in the investigated limesto-
nes seems to be lower than in the Permian reefs of China. The majority of the
"inozoan" genera described by Deng (1982b, 1982c), Rigby et al. (1989b), and Wu
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	29
(1991) were not found in Thailand. This is also true for the "hydrozoans" described
by Fan et al. (1991). This could indicate that only some of the sponges could exist
under the limited environmental conditions which prevailed during the sedimenta-
tion of the reefal limestones in Phrae province, Thailand.
Conclusions
The investigation of the sponge fauna of a few samples of Upper Permian reef or
reefal limestones of the Phrae province in northern Thailand documents a high
diversity of sponges. The sponge fauna is represented by "sphinctozons", "inozoans",
sclerosponges and hexactinellida. "Sphinctozoans" are the most abundant and
diverse sponges, followed by inozoans.
The genus name Belyaevaspongia nom. nov. is proposed for Polysiphonella
Belyaeva, 1991 (in Boiko et al., 1991, non PoZyszp/ioneZZa Russo 1981). BeZz/aeî;as-
pongia insolita (Belyaeva) is the most abundant "sphinctozoan" sponge species,
followed by Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang. Amblysiphonella, a most
abundant "sphinctozoan" genus in other Permian reefs of the world, especially in
Middle and Upper Permian reefs in the Eastern Tethys (China), was not found in the
Phrae province faunas in northern Thailand. The genera Phraethalamia and
Ambithalamia and the species Phraethalamia tubulara and Ambithalamia pérmica
are described for the first time.
Phraethalamia, a Girtyocoelia-like thalamid sponge is placed into the family
Thaumastocoeliidae. Ambithalamia represents a poorly segmented sponge which
belongs to the family Deningeriidae.
Among the "inozoans" the folowing taxa are described for the first time:
Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. and Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp..
Bisiphonella tubulara is the most abundant species among the inozoan sponges.
The reef or reefal limestones of Phrae province are generally developed as
bafflestones. Encrusting organisms, like Archaeolithoporella, an abundant encrust-
ing organism in other Permian reef limestones, are totally absent. The absence of
Archaeolithoporella could be indicative of the high rate of sedimentation. The
occurrence of Colaniella ex. gr. parva indicates an uppermost Permian (Dorasha-
mian) age for the investigated limestones.
The "sphinctozoan" and "inozoan" fauna of the investigated limestones show
little similarities to other known Permian reefs. In addition to the cosmopolitian
sponges, e. g. Sollasia, Girtyocoelia, Colospongia, Peronidella, no endemic sponges
occuring in Phrae province, are known from other Permian localities of the world. It
should be emphasized that Amblysiphonella, an abundant sphinctozoan sponge in
other Permian reefs, especially in China, did not occur in the investigated lime-
stones from the Phrae province.
Acknowledgments
This paper contains results of the cooperative program between the Department
of Mineral Resources, Bangkok, and the Institute of Geology and Dynamics of the
Lithosphere, Göttingen, on the geodynamic evolution of northern Thailand. The
investigations, reported here, were carried out in the Institute for Paleontology,
30	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, within the research project of priority program
"global and regional controls on biogenic sedimentation" supported by the
"Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft" in cooperation with Institute of Geology and
Dynamics of the Lithosphere, University of Göttingen. We thank the National
Research Council of Thailand, Bangkok, and the German Research Foundation
(DFG), Bonn-Bad Godesberg for financial support. Special thanks are due to Dr. C.
Chonglakmani for valuable information about the Late Permian rocks in northern
Thailand and to Dipl. Geol. A. Mickein who provided us with the necessary data to
draw Figure 2 and to describe the regional setting of the locality. Prof. Dr. J. Keith
Rigby (Brigham Young University, Provo) provided a very helpful review of the
manuscript.
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...	31
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34	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 1
1-4 Belyaevaspongia insolita (Belyaeva) from Upper Permian reef limestones of Phrae
province, Northern Thailand
1	Longitudinal section through several chambers. The arrow indicates the small tubes
developed usually in the branching points. Chamber interiors contain some vesiculae.
Rl, 2x
2	Longitidinal section through a branched specimen composed of numerous crescent-like
to hemispherical chambers. The arrows indicate the small tubes on the chamber roofs.
R4, 1.2 X
3	Similar section like fig. 2. The arrows indicate the small tubes. R2, 1.2x
4	Enlargment of the middle part of fig. 3 shows the position of the tubes and the
perforation of the tube walls. 4x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
35
36	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 2
1	Belyaevaspongia insolita (Belyaeva). Longitudinal section through two or three(?) speci-
mens. The arrows indicate the small tubes in the chamber walls. Natural weathered rock
surface. R3, Ix
2	Enlargment of one specimen from fig. 1 (lower part) exhibits the small tube and perforation of
the chamber walls, as well as the wall of the tube. R3, 3x
3	Cystothalamia? sp. or Glomocystospongia? sp. Section through glomerate chambers arranged
in layers around the spongocoel. Tl/2, 5x
4	Sclerospongea gen. et sp. indet. T5/1, 2.4x
5	Discosiphonella sp. Longitudinal- and transverse cross-section through two poorly preserved
specimens. Tl/2, 4x
6	Discosiphonella sp. Similar longitudinal section like fig. 5. Tl/2, 8.5x
7	Sollasia spheroida Rigby, Fan and Zhang. Section through two chambers of a poorly
preserved specimen. The chamber interiors are filled with vesiculae. Tl, 3.2x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
37
38	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 3
1	A) Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang. Longitudinal section through three
specimen of different size. The specimen on the left side of the picture is branched. The
two specimens on the right side exhibit some chambers with and some without spore-like
filling structure
B)	Phraethalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp. (holotype, compare pi. 4, fig. 1)
C)	Longitudinal and transverse cross sections of Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann
D)	Section through three chambers of a specimen of Belyaevaspongia insolita (Belyaeva).
Natural weathered rock surface. R8, 0.7x
2	Belyaevaspongia insolita (Belyaeva). Section through a recrystalized specimen, 2x
3	Cross- and oblique-sections of Peronidella sp.. T4/2, 8x
4	Belyaevaspongia insolita (Belyaeva). Section through a branched specimen. The interior of
some chambers (lower part) show some vesiculae. Natural weathered rock surface. T3, 0.7x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
39
40	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 4
1 Enlargement from pl. 3, fig. 1
A)	Phraethalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp. (holotype). Longitudinal section through
several chambers and the two wide axial canals
B)	Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann
C)	Thalamid sponge indet. R8, 2x
2-5 Intrasporeocoelia hubeiensis Fan and Zhang, 1985
2	Longitudinal section through several crescent-like chambers. The chamber walls are
characterized by their massive appearance and dark color. The chamber interiors are filled
with recrystalized spore-like filling structure. T9, 2.5x
3	Similar section like fig. 2. Thin section. Tl/2, 3x
4	Enlargment of three chambers from fig. 2 (upper part) exhibit the thin interwalls, thick
exowalls of the chamber and the filling structure within the chamber interiors. Thin
section. T9, 4x
5	Similar section as fig. 4. Thin section. T6/1, 3x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
41
42	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 5
1	A) ? Sollasia spheroida or Colospongia?. Because of the perforation of the segment roofs
the affinity to Sollasia is uncertain and the specimen could belong to Colospongia
B) Sclerosponge gen. et sp. indet. R6, 4x
2	A) Sollasia spheroida Rigby et al. Longitudinal section through several chambers. The
chamber interiors are partly filled with vesiculae
B)	Sclerosponge gen. et sp. indet
C)	Bisiphonella tubulara. Oblique section
D)	Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp. R5, 1.7x
3	Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. Longitudinal section. The two spongocoels are cut in the lower
part. R9, 3.2X
4	A) Sollasia spheroida Rigby et al. Section through several chambers
B)	A few chambers of Discosiphonella sp.
C)	Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp. R6, 4x
5	Colospongia sp. Section through three spherical chambers. R9, 3x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
43
44	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 6
1	Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. Longitudinal and transverse cross section. The cross section
exhibits four canals and therefore its affinity to Bisiphonella is not sure. T6/2, 2.3x
2	A) Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. Longitudinal to oblique section
B) Section through several glomerate chambers of Discosiphonella sp. T5/2, 2.7x
3	Discosiphonella sp. Longitudinal section through glomerate chambers around the axial
spongocoel. T5/2, 5.4x
4	A) Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann
B)	Section through an undetermined hexactinellid sponge
C)	Several sections through an "inozoan" sponge. T3, 2.5x
5	Peronidella sp. Oblique- and transverse cross-sections through two specimens. T5/1, 2.7x
6	Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann. Section through three chambers. An ostium is cut in the wall of
the youngest chamber. T4, 7x
7	A) Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. Cross section exhibits the two spongocoels surroimded by
a reticular fiber structure
B)	Peronidella sp. Cross-section
C)	Diverse and undetermined thalamid sponges. T2/1, 4x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
45
46	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 7
1	A) Girtyocoelia beedei (Girty). Longitudinal section. The spongocoel is cut in the upper
part of sponge
B)	Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp.
C)	Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. Cross sections. In one specimen the two spongocoels can
be seen. R7, 2x
2	A) Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. Longitudinal section. The two spongocoels are cut in the
upper part of the sponge
B) Sollasia spheroida Rigby et al. Section through three chambers. R6, 4x
3	A) Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. Oblique section
B)	Ambithalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp.
C)	Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp. Cross section exhibits the thick outer wall
and the loose fiberous structure of the interior of the sponge. R6, 4x
4	Ambithalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp. Oblique section through several specimens exhibit the
poorly developed segmentation of the sponge. R6, 4x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
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48	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 8
1, 2, 4-6 Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. from Upper Permian reefal limestones of Phrae
Province, northern Thailand
1	Peripheral section through the fiber skeleton exhibits the arrangement of the
fibers. R4, 4x
2	A) Longitudinal section through holotype exhibits the two spongocoels, the pores
on the spongocoel wall and the space between the wall of the spongocoels and the
outer wall of the sponge
B) Cross section through a paratype exhibits the wide spongocoels. Rl, 5x
4	Longitudinal section exhibits only one spongocoel in the axial part and a reticular
fiberous structure around the spongocoel. The affinity of this sponge to
Bisiphonella tubulara is uncertain. Rl, 3x
5	A) Longitudinal section through a specimen exhibits one of the canals and the
surrounding fiber structure
B) The basal part of the holotype. Rl, 5x
6	Cross section exhibits the two wide spongocoels. Rl, 6x
3 Girtyocoelia sp. Section through several ring-like chambers. The chambers are
different in size. The spongocoel is cut in the middle part. R12, 6x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
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50	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 9
1	Section through an undetermined hexactinellid sponge exhibits the hexactine spicular
skeleton. R6/2, 12x
2	Cross section through Girtyocoelia beedei (Girty). The recrystallized skeleton exhibits two
large ostia each with a short exaulos on the outer wall. R5/2, 12 x
3	Peronidella sp. Cross section. T/4, 7x
4	Peronidella sp. Oblique section. T2, 8x
5	Sclerospongea gen. et sp. indet. T4, 6x
6, 7 Sclerospongea {Reticulocoelia sp.)
Fig. 6: T4, 5x
Fig. 7: T4, 5x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
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52	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 10
1	A) Tristratocoelia rhythmica Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby
B)	Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann
C)	Ambithalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp., 4x
2	Polished slab opposite to fig. 1
A)	Tristratocoelia rhythmica Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby
B)	Ambithalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp., 4x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
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54	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Piateli
1	Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp. Longitudinal and transverse cross sections exhibit
the relatively easely recognizable segmentation of the sponge. The cross section (in the middle
part of the picture) shows an axial cavity (spongocoel? or boring?). R4, 3,5x
2	A) Phraethalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp.
B)	? Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. Marginal section?
C)	Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp. The oblique section exhibits well developed segmen-
tation. R14, 3,5x
3	A) Phraethalamia tubulara n. gen., n. sp. Longitudinal section through four chambers
exhibiting the dichotomously branched tubes passing from the wall of the spongocoel into the
interior of the chambers. Some vesiculae-like structure occur in the spongocoels. A cross
section of a chamber of the same specimen (?) or an other specimen (?) is cut on the right in the
picture
B)	Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp. Longitudinal section exhibits the poorly developed
segmentation
C)	Sphinctozoa gen. et sp. indet. R13, 2,3x
4	Inozoan sponge gen. et sp. indet. Cross sections through two specimens exhibit the fine and
relatively regular reticular fibers. R17, 3,5x
5	Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp. Oblique section exhibits the poorly developed segmenta-
tion and the regular fiber structure. R16, 3x
6	Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp. Longitudinal section exhibiting the thick outer
wall and loose internal skeleton of the sponge. R9, 3,5x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
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56	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 12
1	A) Thalamid sponge gen. et sp. indet.
B)	Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann
C)	Slcerospongea gen. et sp. indet
D)	Inozoan sponge gen. et sp. indet. R7, 4x
2	A) Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp.
B)	Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp.
C)	Bisiphonella tubulara n. gen., n. sp. R6, 4x
3	A) Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp.
B)	Colospongia sp.
C)	Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. R7, 2x
4	Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. g., n. sp. R6, 3x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
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58	Baba Senowbari-Daryan & Rucha Ingavat-Helmcke
Plate 13
1	Inozoan sponge gen. et sp. indet. Longitudinal section through a branched specimen. R13,
3x
2	A) Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp.
B) Bisiphonella tubulara n. gen., n. sp. Cross sections through two specimens. RIO, 3,5x
3	A) Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp.
B)	Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp.
C)	Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp., R15, 3,5x
4	A) Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp.
B) Rhabdactinia cf. columnaria Yabe and Sugiyama. Longitudinal section through some
chambers. The chamber walls exhibit both small and large openings. Rll, 3x
5	A) Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp. Longitudinal section of a specimen exhibit-
ing the thick outer wall and the loose fiberous structure in the sponge
B) ^Ambithalamia pérmica n. gen., n. sp. RIO, 3,5x
6	Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp. Cross section. R7, 3,5x
7	Solutossaspongia crassimuralis n. gen., n. sp. Section through a branched (?) specimen
exhibits the thick outer wall and the loose fibers in the interior of the sponge. R6, 3,5x
8	Bisiphonella tubulara n. sp. Oblique to longitudinal section exhibits the two axial canals and
the surrounding net-like fiber skeleton. R13, 3,5x
Sponge assemblage of some Upper Permian reef limestones...
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