Experimental taphonomy of velvet worms (Onychophora) and implications for the Cambrian "explosion, disparity and decimation" model
Rev. biol. trop
; 50(3/4): 1133-1138, sept.-dic. 2002. ilus
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-350095
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Experimental preservation of velvet worms (phylum Onychophora), a very rare but evolutionarily important group that has existed for more than 500 million years, showed that the absence of bucal parts, adhesive-expelling organs, gonopore, eyes, legs, claws, annulation and papillation in fossils may not represent absence in the living animals. In fossils, leg thickness and claw orientation can be unreliable. The experiments indicate that not only absence, but even presence of certain structures can simply be the result of tissue decomposition. Computer-aided photorealistic reconstructions of fossi onychophorans are presented. We recommend future researchers to conduct taphonomy experiments specially before analysing unusual fossils
Full text:
1
Index:
LILACS
Main subject:
Computer Simulation
/
Biological Evolution
/
Fossils
/
Annelida
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America central
/
Costa rica
Language:
En
Journal:
Rev. biol. trop
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
MEDICINA TROPICAL
Year:
2002
Type:
Article