\· 

Fossil Echinoids from 

the Marshall Islands 

By PORTER M. KIER 

BIKINI AND NEARBY ATOLLS, MARSHALL ISLANDS 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 260-GG 

A report of three species of echinoids from drill 

cuttings, with a description of an evolutionary 

trend within one of them 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1964 

.. 

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CONTENTS 

Abstract-------------------------------------------

Introduction ____________________ ~------------------

Page. 

1121 

1121 

1121 

Systematic descriptions _____________________________ _ References ________________________________________ _ 

Paleoecology _________ -------------·-----------------

II.JLUSTRATIONS 

[Plate 302 follows p. 1126] 

Page 

PLATE 302. Eocene and Miocene Echinocyamus. 

FIGURE 328. Map showing location of drill holes on Eniwetok AtolL______________________________ 1122 

329. Stratigraphic section showing distribution of echinoids in drill hole E-1 on Eniwetok 

Atoll--------------~--------------------------------------------------------- 1123 

330. Eocene Echinocyamus------------------------------------------------------------ 1124 

331. Miocene Echinocyamus and Pleistoc~ne (?) Fibularia_________________________________ 1125 

m 

Page 

1121 

1126 

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BIKINI AND NEARBY ATOLLS, MARSHALL ISLANDS 

FOSSIL ECHINOIDS FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS 

By PoRTER M. KmR 1 

ABSTRACT 

Two new species of Echinocyam1t8 are described from cuttings in drill holes in Eniwetok Atoll. E. petalus Kier, n. sp. 

from the Upper Eocene shows an evolutionary trend toward 

elongation of the test and movement of the pe~iproct nearer the 

peristome. E. parvipor1t8 Kier, n. sp. occurs in the Miocene. 

There are two specimens of Fibularia ovulum Lamarck from 

beds thought to be Pleistocene. 

INTRODUCTION 

Echinoids described in this paper were found in cuttings from three deep holes drilled on Eniwetok Atoll 

(Ladd and others, 1953) in 1951-52 (fig. 328) and two 

on Bikini Atoll in 1947. Because they came from cuttings, none of the large echinoids was intact. Although 

it is apparent from the fragments that both irregular 

and regular echinoids are represented, none of the large 

echinoids can be identified by this author. Numerous 

specimens of several species of small fibularids are preserved intact from drill hole E-1 on Eniwetok Atoll 

(fig. 329). The new species, Echinocyamus petal'W8, 

occurs in cuttings from depths of 2,780 to 2,930 feet 

(Upper Eocene (fig. 330). This spe.cies is particularly 

interesting because of an evolutionary trend which 

occurs in it; specimens from the lower depths are much 

more rounded and their periprocts n1ore distant from 

their peristomes than in those from higher depths. 

Another new species, Echinocyamus paTviporus, was 

found from depths of 1,658 to 2,760 feet (Miocene). 

Depths of 1,080-2,687 feet were previously recognized 

by Cole ( 1957, p. 1) as Miocene (Tertiary e), but he 

had no diagnostic fossils from depths of 2,687 to 2,780 

feet. The presence or' E. JJa'rvipoTus at these depths 

suggests that this interval is also ~1iocene (e) . This 

species is constant throughout its range and is ~asily 

distinguished from E. petalus. A specimen from depths 

of 1,227 feet 7 inches to 1,238 feet 1 inch on Eniwetok, 

and two fragments from depths 2,493 to 2,514 feet of 

drill hole 2B on Bikini may belong to E. paTvipoTU8. 

1 U.S. National Museum. This report is publlshed by permission of 

the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 

FibUlaTia ovulJum Lamarck, a species living in the present seas off Eniwetok, occurs in beds that are thought 

to be Pleistocene. 

PALEOECOLOGY 

Today, species of Echinocyamus and FibUlaTia occur 

at depths of 0-800 meters and live :buried in calcareous 

mud or coarse sediments. These fossi·l species probably 

lived in a similar environment. 

SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS 

Genus ECHINO'CYAMUS van Phelsum 

Echinocyamus petalus Xier, n. sp. 

Pl•SJte 302, figures 1-7; tex!t figure 330 

Diagnosis.-Species characterized 'by well-developed 

petals with broad interporiferous zones. 

M ateTial.-Ten specimens ·from four levels. 

Measurements of the 10 specimens are as follows. 

Depth 

(feet) 

Length 

(mm) 

Width 

(mm) 

Distance D W (D) -XlOO 

-X 100 perlproct L 

L from (percent) 

(percent) perlstome 

(mm) 

---------1---------------

2, 780-2, 790 ___ ------------------ 2,790-2,802 _______ --------------

2,910-2,920 ___ ------------------ 2,920-2,930 __________ -----------

2.9 

3.2 

4 5 

3.4 

5. 0 5.3 

4.6 

4. 2 

4.8 

2.1 

2.2 

3.2 

2.4 

3.5 

4.2 

4.0 

3.5 

4.1 

72 o. 20 7 

70 ---------- ---------- n .u 6 

70 ---------- ---------- 70 . 31 6 79 . 59 11 

~ ------~59- --------14 85 . 57 12 

Shape.-Elongate, width 70-87 percent of length, 

low, greatest width at midlength; flat adapical and 

adoral surfaces except where depressed around 

peristome. 

.A.picalsystem.-Eccentric anteriorly with ·four genital pores arranged in trapezoid; anterior pair ·closer 

together than posterior pair ; single hydro pore . 

.A.mbUlacTa.-Petals well developed, equal, flush with 

test, extending over two-thirds distance to margin; four 

pore pairs in petals II or IV, 'five in I or V of the smallest specimen, seven in II or IV, nine in I or V of 'largest 

1121 
1122 BIKINI AND NEARBY ATOLLS, MARSHALL ISLANDS 

162°00' 10' 20' 162°30' 1f50' r· -------------------.---------------------.----------------------.---------------------.-----.---------, 

40' 

30' 

20' 

ELUGELAB 

0 ENIWETOK 

' 

HAWAIIAN 

'··. ISLANDS 

180° 140° 

ENGEBI 

EN IWETOK ATOLL 

a 

PARRY 

5 0 15 MILES 

11°10' ~------------------~--------------------~--------------------~--------------------~--------------~ 

FIGURE 328.-Map showing location of .drlll holes on Eniwetok Atoll. Reprinted from Ladd and Schlanger (1960). 

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FOSSIL ECHINOIDS FROM MARSHALL ISLANDS 1123 

~ 

J: 

..... 

a.. 

l.i.J 

0 

800 

1000 

i 

1200 

1600 

1800· 

.12000 

~ 

2200 

2400 

2600 

2800 

''' Fibula ria ovulum Lamarck 

,,,,, Echinocyamus cf. parviporus Kier, n. sp. (K-18) 

Echinocyamus parviporus Kier, n. sp. 

Echinocyamus petalus Kier, n. sp. 

Frounm 820.-Strntlgraphlc section showing distribution of echlnolds In 

drlll hole El-1 on Elnlwetok Atoll. 

specimen. Pores of pair oblique with inner pore nearest apical system. Interporiferous zones wide, in some 

specimens three times width of poriferous zones. Minute accessory pores near sutures of ambulacral plates 

beyond petals. 

Periproct.-Round, smaller than peristome, situated 

between 1;3 and lf2 distance from peristome to posterior 

margin. 

Peristome.-Slightly pentagonal, depressed, in central position in less elongate specimens, posterior in 

more elongate specimens. 

Internal structure.-Ten radiating ·partition wa'lls 

(pt. 302, fig. 4) arranged in ·pairs corresponding in location to interambulacra, most developed near margin. 

Auriqles fused, rising ·rubruptly at slight angle outward, 

expanding at base, very thin 'at tip. 

Intraspecific variation.-Thespecimens from the·lowest level are wider with the width 83-87 percent of 

the 'length, whereas those from higher levels are much 

more elongate with the width only 70-72 percent of the 

length (fig. 330). The width of the single specimen 

from an intermediate level is intermediate, being 79 

percent of the length. Fu.rthermore, specimens f.rom 

the 1owest levels have the periprocts more distant from 

the peristomes with a peri·proct distance 12-14 percent 

of the length, whereas this distance in the specimen 

from the intermediate l~vel is 12 percent and 6 percent 

in specimens f.rom the highest levels. AI though there 

are only a few specimens available, the lack of variability of these two characters ·within any of the popula~ 

tions supports the proposition that these specimens are 

typical of the ·populations. It is interesting to note that 

a trend in the elongation of the test and movement of 

the periproct nearer the peristome was described ( Kier, 

1957, .p. 863) in a very similar species, Echinocyamus 

polymorpha (Duncan and Sladen) ·from the Middle 

Eocene of British Somaliland. 

Oornparison ~oith other species.-This species is distinguished from most other species of E chinoayamus 

by wide well-developed petals. It resembles most 

Echinocyamus polynwrpha (Duncan and Sladen) from 

the Middle Eocene Kirthar Series of India and Karkar 

Series of British Somaliland. In E. petalus the petals 

are more open at the extremities, with wider interporiferous zones, and the petals are flush with the test 

instead o£, slightly raised as in E. polymorpha. 

Furthermore, the Eni wetok species has a more elongate 

test with the periproct nearer the peristome. It .is possible that the evolutionary trend described in E. petalus 

is a continuation of the trend described in E. JJolymorpha, with both species of the same stock. 
1124 BIKINI AND NEARBY ATOLLS, MARSHALL ISLANDS 

• • 

• 

• 

.. 

.. .. .. . , .. . ..... . . . . . ..... : .· .. . ·-:: .. ·:· •.• ·::::=· .·.· ... ·. ·.·. .. · .. · .. ·:: :_·· .. · .. · .. . . . ~-.. . . · ... 

2790-2802 ft 

.. .. 

··. ·. ·. 

... · ... . ....... ····· 

2910-2920 ft 

. . . : 

.. 

. · .. · . · .. 

.. 

.. ·.·.·. 

•••• . .. 

·. ·.·. . . . . . . . . ..... • 0 

··. .. . ... ·... ...· .. ·:: .· .. . . . :· 

.. ::::: ·.·• . .. . . . ... . . · . . . · .... 

..... 

2920-2930 ft 

FIGURE 330.-Eocene EchinocyamuB petaluB Kier, n. sp. Stratigraphic 

sequence of forms, X 10, illustrating the evolutionary trend toward 

elongati'On of the test and movement of the periproct nearer the 

peristome. Specimens from Eniwetok E-1, 2,,790-2,802 feet, USNM 

56314:45 ; 2,910-2,920 feet, holotype USNM 563446 ; 2,920-2,930 feet, 

USNM 56343. 

Occurrence8: Eniwetok E-1, 2,780-2,790 ft, 2 specimens; E-1, 

2,790-2,802 ft, 4 specimens; E-1, 2,910-2,920 ft, 1 specimen; E-1, 

2,920-2,930 ft, 3 specimens. 

Geologic age: Late Eocene (Tertiary b) . 

Type8: Holotype USNM 563446, paratypes USNM 563443-

563445. 

Echinocyamus parviporus Kier, n. sp . 

Plate 302, ·figures 11-15; text figure 331 C-E 

Diagnosis.-Species characterized by broad short 

petals with wide interporiferous zones and small pores. 

Material.-Twelve specimens and fifteen fragments 

ranging in size from 2.9 to 7 .. 3 mm in length. Dimensions of holotype: length 6.8 mm, width 5.6 mm, height 

2.6mm. 

Shape.-Elongate with anterior margin slightly 

pointed, posterior margin slightly truncated, greatest 

width slightly anterior of center, width 83-98 percent 

of length. Adapical surface flat and adoral surface 

depressed around peristome . 

Apicalsystem.-Eccentric anteriorly with four genital pores arranged in trapezoid with anterior pair 

closer together than posterior pair, pores minute; 

single hydropore . 

A mbulacra.-Petals broad, short, extending one half 

the distance from a pi cal system to margin, three pore 

pairs (fig. 331 C) in poriferous zone of smallest specimen, 2.5 mm long; seven in largest, 7.3 mm long; pores 

small, difficult to discern, oblique with inner pore of 

pair nearest apical system. Interporiferous zones wide, 

three times width of poriferous zones. Minute accessory pores near sutures of ambulacral plates beyond 

petals. 

Periproct.-Round, smaller than peristome, situated 

approximately midway between peristome and posterior 

margin, distance of periproct from peristome between 

11 and 15 percent of length of specimen. 

Peristome.-Pentagonal, depressed, in center of test. 

Internal structu,re.-Ten radiating partition walls 

(pl. 302, figs. 11-12) arranged in pairs corresponding 

in location to interambulacra, most developed near 

margin. Auricles fused, rising abruptly at slight angle 

outward, expanding at base, thin at tip . 

Comparison with other species.-This species is distinguished from E. petalus by shorter and generally 

wider petals and smaller pores. In E. parviporus the 

petals extend only half the distance from the apical 

system to the margin, whereas in E. petalus the petals 

extend over two-thirds that distance. E. JJarviporus 

resembles E chinocyamus sadeki Lambert from the 

Miocene (Helvetian) of. North Africa, but it is less 

pointed anteriorly, with slightly shorter petals, wider 

interporiferous zones, and a much lower test than in 

E. sadeki. 

L 

'l 

,. 

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FOSSIL ECHINIODS FROM MARSHALL ISLANDS 1125 

FIGURE 331.-Miocenc and Pleistocene ( ?) echinolds. A, Fibularia ovultun Lnmarck (X 10) from Enllwetok E-1, depth 280-290 feet (Plel!;-

toccnc ?) , USNM 563453. B, Eohinooyamus cf. pnrviporus Kler, n. 

sp. (X 10) from Enlwetok K-1B, depth 1',227 feet 7 lnches-1,238 

feet 1 inch (Miocene), US~M 563452·. C-E, Eol~inooJJamus parvipont.s 

Kler, n. sp. (X 10). C, Immature specimen (X 10) from Enlwetok 

E-1, depth 2,580-2,590 feet (Miocene), USNM 563448. D-E, Adoral 

rrnd ndnpicul view of E!Pecimen (X 10) USNM 563451 from Enlwetok 

E-1, depth 2,500-2,510 feet (Miocene). 

E. parviporus is easily distinguished from Echinocyamus excavata (H. L. Clark) from the l\liocene of 

Fiji. E. parviporus has a lower wider and smaller 

test lacking the greatly depressed area around the peristome that characterizes the Fijian species. Clark 

(1945, p. 320) referred E. excavata to Fibularia on the 

mistaken assumption that it lacked internal partitions. 

However, I have cleaned a specimen of E. excavata 

and found well-developed partitions. 

Occurrences: Eniwetok E-1, 1,658-1.688 ft, 2 specimens; 1,688-

1,715 ft, 1 specimen; 2,500-2,510 ft, 5 specimens, 15 fragments; 

2,580-2,590 ft, 1 specimen ; 2, 750-2,760 ft, 3 specimens. Two 

specimens perhaps belonging to this species from Bikini 2B (for 

location of hole see Emery and others, 1954, fig. 31) depths 

2,493-2,514 ft. 

Geologic age: Miocene (Tertiary e) . 

Types: Holotype USNM 563449; para types USNM 563447, 

563448, 563450, 563451. 

Echinocyamus cf. parviporus Kier 

Plate 302, figures 8-10; text figure 331B 

M aterial.-One specimen 4.0 mm long, 3.3 mm wide, 

2.7mmhigh. 

Remarks.-This immature specimen occurs much 

higher than the specimens of E. parviporus but may 

belong to this species. Its general shape, number of 

pore pairs, shape of petals, and position of periproct 

are the same as in E. parviporus. However, its pores 

are much larger. As this difference in pore size may be 

an individual variation, and as it is an immature specimen, it is not possible to knmY how important is this 

distinction. 

Occurrence: Eniwetok K-1B, 1,227 ft, 7 in.-1,238 ft, 1 in. 

Geologic age: Miocene (Tertiary e) . 

Figured specimen: USNM 563452. 

Genus FIBULARIA Lamarck 

Fibularia ovulum Lamarck 

Te:xlt figure 331. A 

FibuZaria ovuZum L'8Jmarck, 11816. Histoire Nia·turelle des Animaux sans Vertebres, v. 3, p. 17. 

FibuZaria trigona I.Jamarck, 1816. Histoire Nfllturelle des Animaux sans Vertebres, v. 3, p. 17. 

Fibularia craniolari.'l Gray, 1872. Annals and Mag. Nat. History, aer. 4, v.lO, p.123. 

For complete synonomy see Mortensen, 1948, p. 208, 

210. 

Material.-Two specimens, one 3.4 mm long, 2.9 mm 

wide, 2.3 mm high. 

Remarks.-This species is common in the tropical 

part of the Indo-Malayan seas from the Red Sea to the 

Philippines. Many Recent specimens were collected at 

Eniwetok in 1946. As a fossil it has been reported by 

La·mhert ( 1932, p. 208) from the raised beaches of the 
1126 BIKINI AND NEARBY ATOLLS, MARSHALL ISLANDS 

Red Sea, and by Brighton ( 1'931, p. 326) from the 

Pleistocene or Pliocene ( ? ) of the Farsan Islands. 

Mortensen considered Fibularia trigona as a variety 

of F. ovulum. In his monograph, he included a picture 

of the type specimen of F. trigona (Mortensen, 1948, 

text fig. 117 a) and ·a. picture and drawing of a specimen 

he referred to F. ovulum trigona (Mortensen, 1948, pl. 

46, ·figs. 8-9, 25, text fig. 119). He distinguished the 

variety trigona from ovulum by the petals and stated 

that the petals in trigona ·are less developed and the 

pores larger than in typical ovulurm. As evidence he 

referred to his drawing of a specimen from the Korea 

Straits. In this specimen the :petals ·are much less developed and the pores much 'larger, hut such is not the 

case in the type specimen of F. trigona in which the 

petals and ·pores are indistinguishable from those of 

typical F. ovulum. It is my opinion that F. trigona is a 

synonym of F. ovulwm and that Mortensen's specimens 

of Fibularia from the Korea Straits probably represents a new species. In the Fibularids, the shape and 

character of the petals is a diagnostic feature of a 

species and shows little variation within specimens of 

the same species. 

Occurrence: Eni·wetok E--1, 230---2140 ft., 280-290 ft. 

Geologic age: IProbarbly Pleistocene. 

Figured Bpecimen: UlSrNlM 563453. 

Echinoid fragments 

There are many fragments of spines of ·regular 

echinoids, both cidarid and noncidarid, and plates of 

irregular echinoids in the coHections. I am not able to 

identify these fragments. 

OccurrenceB: Bikini 2A, depths 192-1,303 ft. ; 2B, 1,650-2,503 

ft.; Eniwetok E-1, depths 110-2,880 ft.; F-1, 55-1,050 ft.; K-1B, 

957 jjt. 3 ·in.-967 iit. 9 in. 

Geologic age: Eocene to Pleistocene ( ? ) . 

,REFERENCES 

Brighton, A.G., 1931, The geology of rthe Farsran 'Islands, Gimn 

rand ~amaran Island, Red Sea, pt. 3. Echin.oidera : Geol. 

Mag., V. 68, p. 3~38, 6 rteXIt figs. 

Clark, H. L., 1945, Echinoidea, Geology of Lau, Fiji: B. P. 

Bishop Mus. Bull., v. 181, p. 312-328, pls. 41-43. 

Oole, W. :S., 1957, Larger Foraminirera from Eniweltok Alton ddll 

holes: UJS: Geol. rSurvey Prrof. P·aper Q60--V, p. 743-789, pls. 

231-249, fig. 254, tables1--6 [1959]. 

Emery, K. 0., Tracey, J. I., Jr., and Ladd, H. S., 1954, Geology 

of Bikini ~B.nd nea·rby atolls: U:S. Geol. ·Survey rProf. IPtaper 

260--A, p. 1-265, pls. 1-73, figs. 1-84, charts 1-11, tables 1-27. 

Gray, J. E., 1872, EchinodeNlls collercted by M'!Andrew lin the 

Gulf of ·Suez: !A.nn·als tanJd Mag. Nat. History, ser. 4, v. 10, 

p. '115--125. 

Kier, IP. 'M., 1957, Ter.Uary Echinoidea fr.om British SomalHand: 

Jour. Paleootol·ogy, v. 31, no. ·5, p. ·839-902, pls. ·103-107, 19 

teX't figs. 

Ladd, H. '8., Ingerson, Earl, 1'l'ownsend, IR. 0., Russell, Mar.tin, 

and Stephenson, H. K., 1953, Drilling on Eniwetok Atoll, 

Mrarshall Islands: Aim . .Assoc. Petr.oleum Geol.ogiS!ts Bull., 

v. 37, no. 10, p. 2257-2280, rpls. 1-2, figs. 1--5, ;uable 1. 

Ladd, H. •S., rand rSchlan·ger, '8. 0., 1960, Drilling operations on 

Eniwetok Atoll: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 260--Y, p. 

863-905, pls. 265--266, figs. 26~7. 

Lamarck, A. de, 1816, Histoire Naturelle des Animaux sans Vertebras : v. 3, 586 p. 

Lambert, J. M., 1932, Etude sur les echinides fossiles du Nord de 

!'Afrique: ,Soc. geol. France Mem., new ser., v.16, p. 109-228, 

pl·s.~. 

Mol'ltensen, Th., 1948, A MonogrRJph of the Echinoidea 4.2, 

Clypeastroida. Clypeastrid·ae, koochnoididae, Fi'bulrar.iid•ae, 

Langanidae, and Scutellidae :. Copenhagen, 471 p., 72 pls., 

2518 itext figs. 
PLATE 302 

[All figures are 10 times natural size. Photographs by Jack Scott] 

FIGURES 1-7. Echinocyamus petalus Kier, n. sp. (p. 1121). 

1-3. Adapical, right side, adoral views of USNM 563443, from depths of 2,920 to 2,930 ft 

(Upper Eocene). Drawing of this specimen on text figure 330. 

4. View showing in~ernal partitions of USNM 563444, from depths of 2,790 to 2,802 ft 

(Upper Eocene). 

5-7. Ada pi cal, right side, adoral views of USN M 563445, from depths of 2, 790 to 2,802 

ft (Upper Eocene). Compare with figs. 1-3: note more elongate test and position of 

periproct nearer peristome as typical of specimen from higher horizon. Drawing on text 

figure 330. 

8-10. Echinocyamus cf. parviporus Kier, n. sp. (p. 1125). 

Adapical, right side, adoral views of USNM 563452, from depths of 1,227 ft 7 in. to 1,238 

ft 1 in. (Miocene). Drawing of figure 8 on text figure 331 B. 

11-15. Echinocyamus parviporus Kier, n. sp. (p. 1124). 

11, 12. Views showing internal partitions of USNM 563447 and 563450, from depths of 

2,500 to 2,510 ft (Miocene). 

13-15. Adapical, right side, adoral views of holotype USNM 563449, from depths of 

2,500 to 2,510 ft (Miocene). 

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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 260 PLATE 302 

4 

1 3 

5 7 

11 

9 

8 10 

13 

EOCENE AND MIOCENE ECHINOCY AMUS