A case of pedipalpal regeneration in a fossil harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones)

Mitov, Plamen; Dunlop, Jason A.; Bartel, Christian

doi:10.30963/aramit6110

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Malformed fossils present insight into how extinct forms responded to developmental, parasitic, and injury-related complications (Owen, 1985;Babcock, 1993;Klompmaker et al 2019;De Baets et al 2022). Such specimens have been particularly useful for understanding facets of extinct arthropod groups (Babcock, 2003), including chelicerates, crustaceans, and trilobites (Owen, 1985;Klompmaker et al 2013;Bicknell et al 2018cBicknell et al , 2022bMitov et al 2021;De Baets et al 2022). The most commonly documented malformed arthropod fossils are trilobitesa record that reflects their biomineralized exoskeleton (Babcock, 2003(Babcock, , 2007Fatka et al 2015;Bicknell et al 2022d).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Malformed individuals of the trilobiteEstaingia bilobatafrom the Cambrian Emu Bay Shale and their palaeobiological implications

et al. 2023

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Malformed trilobite specimens present important insight into understanding how this extinct arthropod group recovered from developmental or moulting malfunctions, pathologies, and injuries. Previously documented examples of malformed trilobite specimens are often considered in isolation, with few studies reporting on multiple malformations in the same species. Here we report malformed specimens of the ellipsocephaloid trilobite Estaingia bilobata from the Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Ten malformed specimens exhibiting injuries, pathologies, and a range of teratologies are documented. Furthermore, five examples of mangled exoskeletons are presented, indicative of predation on E. bilobata. Considering the position of malformed and normal specimens of E. bilobata in bivariate space, we demonstrate that the majority of malformed specimens cluster among the larger individuals. Such specimens may exemplify larger forms successfully escaping predation attempts, but could equally represent individuals exhibiting old injuries that were made during earlier (smaller) growth stages that have healed through subsequent moulting events. The available evidence from the Emu Bay Shale suggests that this small, extremely abundant trilobite likely played an important role in the structure of the local ecosystem, occupying a low trophic level and being preyed upon by multiple durophagous arthropods. Furthermore, the scarcity of malformed E. bilobata specimens demonstrates how rarely injuries, developmental malfunctions, and pathological infestations occurred within the species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Malformed individuals of the trilobiteEstaingia bilobatafrom the Cambrian Emu Bay Shale and their palaeobiological implications

et al. 2023

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“…Euarthropods, in particular, have been documented showing injuries ( Owen, 1985 ; Bicknell & Paterson, 2018 ), pathologies ( Lochman, 1941 ; Šnajdr, 1978b ), and teratologies ( Pocock, 1974 ; Lee, Choi & Pratt, 2001 ; Bicknell & Smith, 2021 ). While abnormalities are known from arachnids ( Mitov, Dunlop & Bartel, 2021 ), crustaceans ( Bishop, 1972 ; Klompmaker et al, 2013 ; Klompmaker et al, 2014 ), and horseshoe crabs ( Bicknell, Pates & Botton, 2018 ), the most well documented abnormal euarthropods are trilobites ( Šnajdr, 1978a ; Owen, 1983 ; Owen, 1985 ; Babcock, 1993a ; Babcock, 2003 ; Fatka, Budil & Grigar, 2015 ; Fatka, Budil & Zicha, 2021 ; Bicknell, Paterson & Hopkins, 2019 ; Bicknell & Holland, 2020 ; Zong, 2021 ). The detailed record of trilobite abnormalities is due to the biomineralised dorsal exoskeleton exhibited by the group, a structure that increases the preservational potential of specimens and readily permits the record of abnormal structures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining abnormal Silurian trilobites from the Llandovery of Australia

Bicknell

2022

PeerJ

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Abnormal trilobites present insight into how arthropods with fully biomineralised exoskeletons recovered from injuries, genetic malfunctions, and pathologies. Records of abnormal Silurian trilobites in particular show an abundance of specimens with teratologies and a limited record of injuries. Here we expand the record of abnormal Silurian trilobites by presenting seven new abnormal specimens of Odontopleura (Sinespinaspis) markhami from the early Silurian (Llandovery, Telychian) Cotton Formation, New South Wales. We use these specimens to illustrate novel evidence for asymmetric distribution of pleural thoracic spine bases. These abnormal bases likely reflect genetic complications, resulting in morphologies that would unlikely have aided the fitness of abnormal individuals. In considering records of malformed Silurian trilobites more broadly, we propose that the largest trilobites may have been prey at this time. This indicates a possible change in the trophic position of trilobites when compared to Cambrian and Ordovician palaeoecosystems.

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A case of pedipalpal regeneration in a fossil harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones)

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 2 publications

References 25 publications

Malformed individuals of the trilobiteEstaingia bilobatafrom the Cambrian Emu Bay Shale and their palaeobiological implications

Malformed individuals of the trilobiteEstaingia bilobatafrom the Cambrian Emu Bay Shale and their palaeobiological implications

Examining abnormal Silurian trilobites from the Llandovery of Australia

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