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https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28069
Title: | Euproops danae (Belinuridae) cluster confirms deep origin of gregarious behaviour in xiphosurids | Contributor(s): | Bicknell, Russell D C (author) ; Pates, Stephen (author); Botton, Mark L (author) | Publication Date: | 2019 | Open Access: | Yes | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28069 | Open Access Link: | https://kmkjournals.com/journals/AS/AS_Index_Volumes/AS_28/AS_28_4_549_555 | Abstract: | Xiphosurids are archetypal marine arthropods that have received considerable research interest from both biologists and palaeontologists. Mating clusters of extant horseshoe crabs have informed research on clustering in other fossil arthropods, such as trilobites. Furthermore, the evolutionary stasis exhibited by horseshoe crabs suggests that fossil xiphosurids may also have mated in clusters. However, no body fossil evidence has been presented to support this idea. Here, we document a cluster of seven Euproops danae (Meek et Worthen, 1865) specimens preserved on the same bedding plane of Pennsylvanian-aged Farrington Group siltstone. These specimens record potential reproductive strategies of belinurids that are comparable to extant counterparts. This gregarious behaviour may have decreased the impact of predation and/or contributed to genetic diversity. The cluster ultimately highlights a further example of xiphosurid evolutionary stasis. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | Arthropoda Selecta, 28(4), p. 549-555 | Publisher: | KMK Scientific Press Ltd | Place of Publication: | Russia | ISSN: | 0136-006X | Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 040308 Palaeontology (incl. Palynology) | Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 370506 Palaeontology (incl. palynology) | Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences | Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences | Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
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Appears in Collections: | Journal Article School of Environmental and Rural Science School of Science and Technology |
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