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 and from the Campsite Cliff Shale Member of the Burgess Shale Formation (Cambrian, Miaolingian, Wuliuan), () from the Jince Formation (Cambrian, Miaolingian, Drumian), from the Llanfawr Mudstones Formation (Middle-Late Ordovician, Darriwilian-Sandbian), and 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 and and , highlighting that these species are targets for further understanding patterns and records of trilobite injuries.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10613439 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16326 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Five new malformed trilobites from Cambrian and Ordovician deposits from the Natural History Museum.
PeerJ
November 2023
Palaeontology Department, Australian Museum Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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 and from the Campsite Cliff Shale Member of the Burgess Shale Formation (Cambrian, Miaolingian, Wuliuan), () from the Jince Formation (Cambrian, Miaolingian, Drumian), from the Llanfawr Mudstones Formation (Middle-Late Ordovician, Darriwilian-Sandbian), and from the Meadowtown Formation, (Middle-Late Ordovician, Darriwilian-Sandbian).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new bilaterally injured trilobite presents insight into attack patterns of Cambrian predators.
PeerJ
January 2023
Palaeoscience Research Centre, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, New South Wales, Australia.
Durophagous predation in the Cambrian is typically recorded as malformed shells and trilobites, with rarer evidence in the form of coprolites and shelly gut contents. Reporting novel evidence for shell-crushing further expands the understanding of where and when in the Cambrian durophagy was present. To expand the current documentation and present new records of malformed trilobites from the Cambrian of China, we present an injured () from the lower Cambrian Balang Formation, western Hunan, South China.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTeratological trilobites from the Silurian (Wenlock and Ludlow) of Australia.
Naturwissenschaften
October 2021
Palaeontology Department, Australian Museum Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
Documentation of malformed trilobites has presented invaluable insight into the palaeobiology of a wholly extinct euarthropod group. Although the northern hemisphere record is relatively well documented, examples of abnormal trilobites from Australia are limited. Furthermore, most recorded specimens are from Cambrian-aged rocks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInjuries and molting interference in a trilobite from the Cambrian (Furongian) of South China.
PeerJ
April 2021
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
An injured Zhu, Hughes & Peng, 2007 (Trilobita, Asaphida) was collected from the Furongian of Guangxi, South China. The injuries occurred in the left thoracic pleurae possessing two marked V-shaped gaps. It led to substantial transverse shortening of the left pleural segments, with barely perceptible traces of healing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExploring abnormal Cambrian-aged trilobites in the Smithsonian collection.
PeerJ
February 2020
Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Boston, United States of America.
Biomineralised trilobite exoskeletons provide a 250 million year record of abnormalities in one of the most diverse arthropod groups in history. One type of abnormality-repaired injuries-have allowed palaeobiologists to document records of Paleozoic predation, accidental damage, and complications in moulting experienced by the group. Although Cambrian trilobite injuries are fairly well documented, the illustration of new injured specimens will produce a more complete understanding of Cambrian prey items.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!