Intraspecific variation of early Cambrian (stage 3) arthropod Retifacies abnormalis revealed by morphometric analyses
Retifacies abnormalis is a large artiopodan euarthropod known only from the famous fossil deposits of the Chengjiang biota, China (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3). It is well known for its pronounced reticulated ornamentation that covers the entire dorsal surface of the exoskeleton. Here 109 new specime...
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| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1336365/full |
| _version_ | 1827347174406488064 |
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| author | Weiliang Lin Stephen Pates Sarah R. Losso Dongjing Fu |
| author_facet | Weiliang Lin Stephen Pates Sarah R. Losso Dongjing Fu |
| author_sort | Weiliang Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Retifacies abnormalis is a large artiopodan euarthropod known only from the famous fossil deposits of the Chengjiang biota, China (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3). It is well known for its pronounced reticulated ornamentation that covers the entire dorsal surface of the exoskeleton. Here 109 new specimens of R. abnormalis from multiple deposits are reported. Some larger specimens display a distinct carapace ornamentation to what was previously known. By qualitatively separating specimens into two groups (‘Morph A’, ‘Morph B’) and analyzing the shape of the body, pygidium, and shape of the polygons in the reticulation, using linear and geometric morphometrics and elliptical Fourier analysis, the two morphs are shown to overlap in morphospace and display similar length:width ratios of body parts, rather than form two distinct clusters. The differences are interpreted as intraspecific rather than as diagnosing two species. As Morph B are only found in larger size classes, R. abnormalis ornamentation differences are interpreted to have developed during ontogeny, but are not thought to represent sexual dimorphs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:44:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cd2e46a6eff348a49d9f46208e0d4f90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:44:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-cd2e46a6eff348a49d9f46208e0d4f902024-02-19T15:39:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2024-02-011210.3389/fevo.2024.13363651336365Intraspecific variation of early Cambrian (stage 3) arthropod Retifacies abnormalis revealed by morphometric analysesWeiliang Lin0Stephen Pates1Sarah R. Losso2Dongjing Fu3State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environments, and Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, ChinaDepartment of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United KingdomMuseum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United StatesState Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environments, and Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, ChinaRetifacies abnormalis is a large artiopodan euarthropod known only from the famous fossil deposits of the Chengjiang biota, China (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3). It is well known for its pronounced reticulated ornamentation that covers the entire dorsal surface of the exoskeleton. Here 109 new specimens of R. abnormalis from multiple deposits are reported. Some larger specimens display a distinct carapace ornamentation to what was previously known. By qualitatively separating specimens into two groups (‘Morph A’, ‘Morph B’) and analyzing the shape of the body, pygidium, and shape of the polygons in the reticulation, using linear and geometric morphometrics and elliptical Fourier analysis, the two morphs are shown to overlap in morphospace and display similar length:width ratios of body parts, rather than form two distinct clusters. The differences are interpreted as intraspecific rather than as diagnosing two species. As Morph B are only found in larger size classes, R. abnormalis ornamentation differences are interpreted to have developed during ontogeny, but are not thought to represent sexual dimorphs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1336365/fullCambrianChengjiang biotaarthropodaRetifaciesintraspecific variationmorphometric analysis |
| spellingShingle | Weiliang Lin Stephen Pates Sarah R. Losso Dongjing Fu Intraspecific variation of early Cambrian (stage 3) arthropod Retifacies abnormalis revealed by morphometric analyses Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Cambrian Chengjiang biota arthropoda Retifacies intraspecific variation morphometric analysis |
| title | Intraspecific variation of early Cambrian (stage 3) arthropod Retifacies abnormalis revealed by morphometric analyses |
| title_full | Intraspecific variation of early Cambrian (stage 3) arthropod Retifacies abnormalis revealed by morphometric analyses |
| title_fullStr | Intraspecific variation of early Cambrian (stage 3) arthropod Retifacies abnormalis revealed by morphometric analyses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intraspecific variation of early Cambrian (stage 3) arthropod Retifacies abnormalis revealed by morphometric analyses |
| title_short | Intraspecific variation of early Cambrian (stage 3) arthropod Retifacies abnormalis revealed by morphometric analyses |
| title_sort | intraspecific variation of early cambrian stage 3 arthropod retifacies abnormalis revealed by morphometric analyses |
| topic | Cambrian Chengjiang biota arthropoda Retifacies intraspecific variation morphometric analysis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1336365/full |
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