Bathyal sponges from the late Early Miocene of the Vienna Basin (central Paratethys, Slovakia)

Here we report, for the first time, a very rich and diversified sponge assemblage from late Early Miocene deposits of a central part of the Vienna Basin (Paratethys) in Slovakia. Bodily preserved sponges are described as a new genus and species Paracinachyrella fossilis (Tetiliidae, Demospongiae). Dissociated spicules reveal the presence of the soft demosponges that belong to families Tetillidae, Theneidae, Geodiidae, Samidae, Thrombidae, Thoosidae, Agelasidae, Myxillidae, Bubaridae, and Tedaniidae, the lithistid family Pleromidae, and an undetermined rhizoclone-bearing lithistid. Fragments of dictyonal skeleton indicate the presence of hexactinellid sponges that belong to the families Farreidae and Euretidae, and lychniscosan sponges. We estimate that at least 16-19 different species of siliceous sponges inhabited this region of the Central Paratethys during the latest Burdigalian. Most of these sponges are reported for the first time from the Miocene of the Paratethys. This sponge fauna has clear Tethyan affinities and indicates the existence of connection between Paratethys and Tethys during the latest Burdigalian, as well as the presence of open marine, deep-water, bathyal conditions in this part of the Vienna Basin.