Hankittaviidae

Hankittaviidae is a small, extinct family of marine invertebrates known only from fossil material. The name derives from the type genus Hankittavia, and it has appeared in paleontological literature as a way to group certain fossil remains that share suggested anatomical features. The taxonomic status and exact composition of Hankittaviidae have been uncertain, with some authors treating it as a valid family and others considering it a synonym of a related group or a more broadly defined assemblage.

The fossil record for Hankittaviidae is limited, and the available material is often fragmentary. This scarcity makes it difficult to establish clear diagnostic characters or to confirm relationships with other families. As a result, the defining features used to distinguish Hankittaviidae can be provisional and subject to revision as new specimens are found or as reassessments of existing material take place.

The known occurrences of Hankittaviidae come from sedimentary contexts that indicate a marine environment, but precise ecological interpretations are cautious due to the incomplete nature of the fossils. The temporal distribution is not well constrained in the literature, and estimates range across various geologic intervals depending on the interpretation of the fragmentary evidence.

Because of the ongoing debates about its validity and content, Hankittaviidae is sometimes described as a nomen dubium or as a taxon in need of revision by subsequent cladistic analyses and new discoveries. Researchers continue to reassess its placement within the broader history of marine invertebrates as more material becomes available.