Oriented thin sections, serial sectioning and SEM studies reveal a basically hydrozoan microstructure. The characteristic shape of Kerunia is the net result of a complicated symbiotic relationship between a hydrozoan, a hermit crab, and its original home inherited from a gastropod.
Parent taxon: Hydrozoa according to Z. Abdelmohsen 2003
See also Bayer et al. 1956
Sister taxa: Actinulida, Delheidia, Fistulella, Graptogeitonia, Hydrocorallinae, Hydroida, Hydroidolina, Lemniscaterina, Likinia, Limnomedusae, Milleporidae, Milleporina, Narcomedusae, Nigriporellidae, Plumalina, Rhizostromella, Roseoporella, Siphonophorida, Sphaeractinida, Spongiomorphida, Stoliczkiella, Stylasterina, Trachylinida, Tubulariae, Tubuloparietes
Subtaxa: Kerunia cornuta
Ecology: stationary epifaunal carnivore-suspension feeder
Distribution:
• Eocene of Egypt (3 collections)
Total: 3 collections each including a single occurrence
Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.
Click image to enlarge. Click to access iDigBio record.