Five new malformed trilobites from Cambrian and Ordovician deposits from the Natural History Museum
Injured trilobites present insight into how a completely extinct group of arthropods responded to traumatic experiences, such as failed predation and moulting complications. These specimens are therefore important for more thoroughly understanding the Paleozoic predator-prey systems that involved tr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2023-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/16326.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797412963877912576 |
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| author | Russell D.C. Bicknell Patrick M. Smith |
| author_facet | Russell D.C. Bicknell Patrick M. Smith |
| author_sort | Russell D.C. Bicknell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Injured trilobites present insight into how a completely extinct group of arthropods responded to traumatic experiences, such as failed predation and moulting complications. These specimens are therefore important for more thoroughly understanding the Paleozoic predator-prey systems that involved trilobites. To expand the record of injured trilobites, we present new examples of injured Ogygopsis klotzi and Olenoides serratus from the Campsite Cliff Shale Member of the Burgess Shale Formation (Cambrian, Miaolingian, Wuliuan), Paradoxides (Paradoxides) paradoxissimus gracilis from the Jince Formation (Cambrian, Miaolingian, Drumian), Ogygiocarella angustissima from the Llanfawr Mudstones Formation (Middle–Late Ordovician, Darriwilian–Sandbian), and Ogygiocarella debuchii from the Meadowtown Formation, (Middle–Late Ordovician, Darriwilian–Sandbian). We consider the possible origins of these malformations and conclude that most injuries reflect failed predation. Within this framework, possible predators are presented, and we uncover a marked shift in the diversity of animals that targeted trilobites in the Ordovician. We also collate other records of injured Ogygo. klotzi and Ol. serratus, and Ogygi. debuchii, highlighting that these species are targets for further understanding patterns and records of trilobite injuries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:10:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f6d215664224702a2ab11e583b7a02d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:10:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-0f6d215664224702a2ab11e583b7a02d2023-12-03T12:49:24ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592023-10-0111e1632610.7717/peerj.16326Five new malformed trilobites from Cambrian and Ordovician deposits from the Natural History MuseumRussell D.C. Bicknell0Patrick M. Smith1American Museum of Natural History, New York City, NY, United States of AmericaPalaeontology Department, Australian Museum Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaInjured trilobites present insight into how a completely extinct group of arthropods responded to traumatic experiences, such as failed predation and moulting complications. These specimens are therefore important for more thoroughly understanding the Paleozoic predator-prey systems that involved trilobites. To expand the record of injured trilobites, we present new examples of injured Ogygopsis klotzi and Olenoides serratus from the Campsite Cliff Shale Member of the Burgess Shale Formation (Cambrian, Miaolingian, Wuliuan), Paradoxides (Paradoxides) paradoxissimus gracilis from the Jince Formation (Cambrian, Miaolingian, Drumian), Ogygiocarella angustissima from the Llanfawr Mudstones Formation (Middle–Late Ordovician, Darriwilian–Sandbian), and Ogygiocarella debuchii from the Meadowtown Formation, (Middle–Late Ordovician, Darriwilian–Sandbian). We consider the possible origins of these malformations and conclude that most injuries reflect failed predation. Within this framework, possible predators are presented, and we uncover a marked shift in the diversity of animals that targeted trilobites in the Ordovician. We also collate other records of injured Ogygo. klotzi and Ol. serratus, and Ogygi. debuchii, highlighting that these species are targets for further understanding patterns and records of trilobite injuries.https://peerj.com/articles/16326.pdfTrilobitesInjuriesPredator-prey systemsPredationPaleozoicBurgess Shale |
| spellingShingle | Russell D.C. Bicknell Patrick M. Smith Five new malformed trilobites from Cambrian and Ordovician deposits from the Natural History Museum PeerJ Trilobites Injuries Predator-prey systems Predation Paleozoic Burgess Shale |
| title | Five new malformed trilobites from Cambrian and Ordovician deposits from the Natural History Museum |
| title_full | Five new malformed trilobites from Cambrian and Ordovician deposits from the Natural History Museum |
| title_fullStr | Five new malformed trilobites from Cambrian and Ordovician deposits from the Natural History Museum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Five new malformed trilobites from Cambrian and Ordovician deposits from the Natural History Museum |
| title_short | Five new malformed trilobites from Cambrian and Ordovician deposits from the Natural History Museum |
| title_sort | five new malformed trilobites from cambrian and ordovician deposits from the natural history museum |
| topic | Trilobites Injuries Predator-prey systems Predation Paleozoic Burgess Shale |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/16326.pdf |
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