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https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9524
Title: | 'Microdictyon' plates from the lower Cambrian Ajax Limestone of South Australia: Implications for species taxonomy and diversity | Contributor(s): | Topper, TP (author); Brock, GA (author); Skovsted, CB (author); Paterson, John R (author) | Publication Date: | 2011 | DOI: | 10.1080/03115518.2011.533972 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9524 | Abstract: | A small assemblage of isolated 'Microdictyon' plates is described from the lower Cambrian Ajax Limestone, Mt Scott Range (Flinders Ranges), South Australia. 'Microdictyon' plates are primarily known from single, isolated, perforated phosphatic sclerites; only one species ('M. sinicum') from the Chengjiang Lagerstätte is known from soft-bodied preservation of the complete organism. The isolated plates from South Australia display a wide range of morphologies potentially reflecting: 1, considerable diversification within the group at this time; 2, extensive intraspecific morphological variation; 3, different plate morphotypes along the trunk of the animal; or 4, significant ontogenetic variation in successive growth stages. The South Australian specimens are similar to several individual sclerites described from other Cambrian palaeocontinents, but appear closest to faunas described from South China. Problems associated with the taxonomy of isolated 'Microdictyon' plates are discussed, including the lack of knowledge associated with intraspecific and/or ontogenetic variability and how individual plate morphology may relate to size or relative position along the length of the complete organism. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 35(3), p. 427-443 | Publisher: | Taylor & Francis | Place of Publication: | United Kingdom | ISSN: | 1752-0754 0311-5518 |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 060301 Animal Systematics and Taxonomy 040308 Palaeontology (incl Palynology) |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences 970104 Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences |
Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
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Appears in Collections: | Journal Article |
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