Vauxia

Vauxia is a genus of demosponge from the Early Paleozoic Era.

Description
Different species of Vauxia have different appearances, and are distinguished by the shapes of their branches. Some species have simple, unbranched forms while others have very long and complex branches. Vauxia can reach up to 15 centimeters in height, although 8 centimeters is more common.

Fossils of Vauxia are found globally, in rocks dating to the Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian Periods.

Classification
Vauxia was originally believed to be a type of glass sponge, but J. K. Rigby reclassified it as a demosponge in 1980. There are six or seven known species, and the type species is V. gracilenta.

History
Five species of Vauxia were initially described by Charles Doolittle Walcott in 1920 from the Burgess Shale. The name refers to a peak in British Columbia called Mount Vaux.