A moment from before 365 Ma frozen in time and space
Błażej Błażejowski, Piotr Gieszcz, Carlton E. Brett & Marcin Binkowski
Scientific Reports 5, Article number: 14191 (2015)
doi:10.1038/srep14191
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Palaeontology | Physiology
Received:
12 May 2015
Accepted:
27 July 2015
Published online:
18 September 2015
Abstract
This study presents a detailed analysis of an exceptionally well-preserved articulated specimen of the trilobite Trimerocephalus from the Late Devonian of the Holy Cross Mountains in Poland. X-ray microtomography reveals the oldest direct evidence for a moulting episode known from the fossil record. The process of moulting as well as associated features observed in the investigated specimen are interpreted by comparison with extinct and extant Xiphosurida arthropods, which survived global P/T extinction and are among the closest extant relatives of trilobites. A very special moment frozen in time and space millions years ago provides rare insights into the behavior and physiology of these long-extinct arthropods.
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