Traditionally, the origin and evolution of modern arthropod body plans has been revealed through increasing levels of appendage specialisation exhibited by Cambrian euarthropods. Here we show significant variation in limb morphologies and patterns of limb-tagmosis among three early Cambrian arthropod species conventionally assigned to the Bradoriida. These arthropods are recovered as a monophyletic stem-euarthropod group (and sister taxon to crown-group euarthropods, i.e. Chelicerata, Mandibulat...
The euarthropod Luohuilinella deletres sp. nov. is described from rare material from the Chengjiang biota, Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3, of Yunnan Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis recovers a xandarellid affinity for L. deletres , representing only the fifth described species of this clade. L. deletres possesses a head shield that is about one-fifth of the total body length and a trunk with 30 tergites, the reduced anterior-most tergite and terminal three tergites lacking pleural elongations....
Last. Enrique Peñalver(Instituto Geológico y Minero de España)H-Index: 18
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Ancient protein analysis is a rapidly developing field of research. Proteins ranging in age from the Quaternary to Jurassic are being used to answer questions about phylogeny, evolution, and extinction. However, these analyses are sometimes contentious, and focus primarily on large vertebrates in sedimentary fossilisation environments; there are few studies of protein preservation in fossils in amber. Here we show exceptionally slow racemisation rates during thermal degradation experiments of re...
One of the best records of late Paleozoic ecosystems, the Mazon Creek Lagerstatte is world famous for its striking flora and fauna preserved within siderite concretions. Distinct from other late Carboniferous concretionary Lagerstatten because of the remarkable fidelity of soft tissues and pigments that are frequently preserved, the Mazon Creek has seen a revival in investigations during the last 10 years using modern palaeontological techniques. However, many of these modern investigations buil...
Abstract Since the mid-20th century, plastics have been manufactured, used, and discarded at accelerating rates, with almost 9 billion metric tons (9 × 109 t) having been produced so far, an amount that seems set to increase sixfold by the mid-21st century. As low-density, decay-proof and commonly robust materials, easily transported by wind and water, they have become widespread as particles in the Earth's surface sedimentary pathways, harming biological organisms along the way. As more plastic...
Abstract The exceptionally preserved Chengjiang Biota (Yunnan, China) is significant for understanding the rapid development of complex animal-rich ecosystems during the evolutionary radiation of the Cambrian. However, the ecological signal provided by the fossils captured in this deposit may not reflect accurately the in-life community, with transport and decay of carcasses being the principal processes responsible for potential modification. The principal fossil-bearing interval (Maotianshan S...
Abstract. Vetulicolians are a group of exclusively Cambrian animals characterized by an anterior section with lateral pouches and a posterior section that appears segmented. The precise phylogenetic affinity of vetulicolians is debated because there is a lack of consensus regarding the interpretation of their anatomical features. Their disparate morphology might even cause one to question whether this is a monophyletic taxon. In total, there are 15 species grouped into three families included in...
Chancelloriids are an extinct group of spiny Cambrian animals of uncertain phylogenetic position. Despite their sponge-like body plan, their spines are unlike modern sponge spicules, but share seve...