A Silurian myodocope with preserved soft-parts: cautioning the interpretation of the shell-based ostracod record.
Proc Biol Sci
; 280(1752): 20122664, 2013 Feb 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23235709
ABSTRACT
Ostracod crustaceans are the most abundant fossil arthropods. The Silurian Pauline avibella gen. et sp. nov., from the Herefordshire Lagerstätte, UK, is an extremely rare Palaeozoic example with soft-part preservation. Based on its soft-part morphology, especially the exceptionally preserved limbs and presence of lateral eyes, it is assigned to the myodocopid myodocopes. The ostracod is very large, with an epipod on the fifth limb pair, as well as gills implying the presence of a heart and an integrated respiratory-circulatory system as in living cylindroleberidid myodocopids. Features of its shell morphology, however, recall halocyprid myodocopes and palaeocopes, encouraging caution in classifying ostracods based on the carapace alone and querying the interpretation of their shell-based fossil record, especially for the Palaeozoic, where some 500 genera are presently assigned to the Palaeocopida.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Crustáceos
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article