Archaeocyatha facts for kids

Archaeocyatha (say "Ar-kee-oh-SY-ath-uh") were a group of ancient sea creatures. They looked a bit like sponges and lived in the oceans a very long time ago. These interesting animals are now extinct, meaning they no longer exist on Earth. They were some of the first animals to build hard skeletons, which helped them create the very first reefs.

What Were Archaeocyatha?

Archaeocyatha were simple marine animals. They had a unique cup-like or cone-shaped body. Their skeletons were made of calcium carbonate, which is a hard, chalky material. This skeleton helped them keep their shape. Most Archaeocyatha were only a few centimeters tall. Some could grow much larger, up to 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) in height.

Body Structure of Archaeocyatha

The body of an Archaeocyath was like a double-walled cup.

• It had an inner wall and an outer wall.
• These walls were connected by many small, vertical plates called septa.
• The space between the walls was filled with pores and chambers.
• Water flowed through these pores, allowing the animal to filter food.
• At the bottom, they had a holdfast. This helped them attach to the seafloor.

How They Lived and Ate

Archaeocyatha were filter feeders.

• They pulled water into their bodies through tiny holes in their outer wall.
• Inside, they filtered out small food particles like plankton.
• Clean water then left through a large opening at the top.
• This way of eating is similar to how modern sponges feed.
• They likely lived attached to the seabed in shallow, warm waters.

When and Where Did They Live?

Archaeocyatha lived during a specific time in Earth's history.

• They appeared during the early Cambrian Period.
• This was about 520 to 530 million years ago.
• They were very common for a short time.
• Their fossils are found all over the world.
• Places like Siberia, Australia, Antarctica, and North America have many Archaeocyath fossils.

Their Habitat: Early Reef Builders

Archaeocyatha were very important for their time.

• They were among the first animals to build large reefs.
• These reefs were like underwater cities.
• They provided homes for many other early sea creatures.
• Before Archaeocyatha, reefs were mostly built by microbes.
• Their ability to build hard skeletons changed ocean ecosystems.
• They helped create complex habitats on the seafloor.

Why Are Archaeocyatha Important?

Archaeocyatha are very important to scientists.

• They help us understand early life on Earth.
• They show how complex ecosystems began to form.
• Their fossils are also used as "index fossils."

What are Index Fossils?

Index fossils are like time markers in rocks.

• They are fossils of organisms that lived for a short time.
• They were also found over a wide area.
• Because Archaeocyatha lived only during the early Cambrian Period, finding their fossils in a rock layer tells scientists the age of that rock layer.
• This helps geologists date different rock formations around the world.

Their Extinction

Sadly, Archaeocyatha did not last forever.

• They became extinct by the end of the Cambrian Period.
• This was about 500 million years ago.
• The exact reason for their disappearance is not fully known.
• Scientists think it might have been due to changes in ocean chemistry.
• New types of sponges and corals also appeared.
• These new animals might have competed with Archaeocyatha for resources.
• Their extinction marked the end of an important chapter in early reef building.

Images for kids

• 

  Branching form archaeocyath from Rowland's Reef in Nevada

• 

  Archeocyathids from the Poleta formation, eastern California

• 

  Restoration of Antarcticocyathus webberi

See also

In Spanish: Arqueociatos para niños