agonistidena

Agonistidena is a genus of extinct marine bryozoans from the Tournaisian to Frasnian stages of the Mississippian and early Devonian periods. The fossils of this genus are characterized by their distinctive cylindrical colonies and minute avicularia, which were the smaller chambered structures attached to the growing surface of the bryozoan.

Agonistidena is known from various localities in Europe, with a significant collection from the Lorraine region of France. The genus is associated with other marine organisms such as brachiopods, crinoids, and coral species. Agonistidena colonies were attached to a base or to other substrate-fixed organisms, and were composed of sometimes hollow, often solid, chambered tubular structures.

These bryozoans were filter feeders, with feeding structures in the form of lophophores, projecting from the main mass of the colony, brought edible particles into contact with the mouth of the feeding organism. Agonistidena colonies were polypide-bearing structures without apical or apohyprbis poriae (breathing organs).

Research on the taxonomy and classification of Agonistidena suggests that its biostournalsia are generally not of great conglomerations of relatively thin branched uptake membrane-gazed seats which gazed filaments unmaupt.