Oldest record of freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillina)- spiculite finds in the Permo-Carboniferous of Europe

Up to now the oldest freshwater siliceous sponges are known from Jurassic deposits of Europe and North America. In this paper stratigraphically older Permo-Carboniferous freshwater siliceous sponges are reviewed/reported. Largely overlooked occurrences originate from the French Massif Central (Stefanian B) new discoveries come from the Saar-Nahe Basin (Stefanian C and Autunian) in south-west Germany. All Permo-Carboniferous finds originate from freshwater lake deposits situated hundreds of kilometers away front the sea. Preserved are monaxone spicules (oxeas) various length/diameter ratios partly concentrated to spiculites. Gemmoscleres have not been found. A taxonomic classification oil family level is not possible. Reasons For the immigration of marine euryhaline sponges, into the freshwater might he the conquerence of the newly developed freshwater biotopes on Pangaea after the Variscan Orogeny. Possible migration routes are rivers connecting., inland basins with the sea.