Stegosauria: a historical review of the body fossil record and phylogenetic relationships

2010 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susannah C. R. Maidment
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Historical Review ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Fossil

scholarly journals Ecogeochemistry potential in deep time biodiversity illustrated using a modern deep-water case study

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1691) ◽  
pp. 20150223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive N. Trueman ◽  
Ming-Tsung Chung ◽  
Diana Shores
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Population Connectivity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Deep Time ◽  
The Common ◽  
Body Fossil ◽  
Methodological Ground

The fossil record provides the only direct evidence of temporal trends in biodiversity over evolutionary timescales. Studies of biodiversity using the fossil record are, however, largely limited to discussions of taxonomic and/or morphological diversity. Behavioural and physiological traits that are likely to be under strong selection are largely obscured from the body fossil record. Similar problems exist in modern ecosystems where animals are difficult to access. In this review, we illustrate some of the common conceptual and methodological ground shared between those studying behavioural ecology in deep time and in inaccessible modern ecosystems. We discuss emerging ecogeochemical methods used to explore population connectivity and genetic drift, life-history traits and field metabolic rate and discuss some of the additional problems associated with applying these methods in deep time.

The hierarchical structure of organisms: a scale and documentation of a trend in the maximum

Paleobiology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel. W. McShea
Keyword(s):  
Hierarchical Structure ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Eukaryotic Cell ◽  
The Body ◽  
Hierarchical Level ◽  
The Hierarchical Structure ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Body Fossil

The degree of hierarchical structure of organisms—the number of levels of nesting of lower-level entities within higher-level individuals—has apparently increased a number of times in the history of life, notably in the origin of the eukaryotic cell from an association of prokaryotic cells, of multicellular organisms from clones of eukaryotic cells, and of integrated colonies from aggregates of multicellular individuals. Arranged in order of first occurrence, these three transitions suggest a trend, in particular a trend in the maximum, or an increase in the degree of hierarchical structure present in the hierarchically deepest organism on Earth. However, no rigorous documentation of such a trend—based on operational and consistent criteria for hierarchical levels—has been attempted. Also, the trajectory of increase has not been examined in any detail. One limitation is that no hierarchy scale has been developed with sufficient resolution to document more than these three major increases. Here, a higher-resolution scale is proposed in which hierarchical structure is decomposed into levels and sublevels, with levels reflecting number of layers of nestedness, and sublevels reflecting degree of individuation at the highest level. The scale is then used, together with the body-fossil record, to plot the trajectory of the maximum. Two alternative interpretations of the record are considered, and both reveal a long-term trend extending from the Archean through the early Phanerozoic. In one, the pattern of increase was incremental, with almost all sublevels arising precisely in order. The data also raise the possibility that waiting times for transitions between sublevels may have decreased with increasing hierarchical level (and with time). These last two findings—incremental increase in level and decreasing waiting times—are tentative, pending a study of possible biases in the fossil record.

scholarly journals Aquatic stem group myriapods close a gap between molecular divergence dates and the terrestrial fossil record

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (16) ◽  
pp. 8966-8972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory D. Edgecombe ◽  
Christine Strullu-Derrien ◽  
Tomasz Góral ◽  
Alexander J. Hetherington ◽  
Christine Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Head Capsule ◽  
The Body ◽  
Molecular Dating ◽  
Crown Group ◽  
Stem Group ◽  
Small Set ◽  
Body Fossil

Identifying marine or freshwater fossils that belong to the stem groups of the major terrestrial arthropod radiations is a longstanding challenge. Molecular dating and fossils of their pancrustacean sister group predict that myriapods originated in the Cambrian, much earlier than their oldest known fossils, but uncertainty about stem group Myriapoda confounds efforts to resolve the timing of the group’s terrestrialization. Among a small set of candidates for membership in the stem group of Myriapoda, the Cambrian to Triassic euthycarcinoids have repeatedly been singled out. The only known Devonian euthycarcinoid, Heterocrania rhyniensis from the Rhynie and Windyfield cherts hot spring complex in Scotland, reveals details of head structures that constrain the evolutionary position of euthycarcinoids. The head capsule houses an anterior cuticular tentorium, a feature uniquely shared by myriapods and hexapods. Confocal microscopy recovers myriapod-like characters of the preoral chamber, such as a prominent hypopharynx supported by tentorial bars and superlinguae between the mandibles and hypopharynx, reinforcing an alliance between euthycarcinoids and myriapods recovered in recent phylogenetic analysis. The Cambrian occurrence of the earliest euthycarcinoids supplies the oldest compelling evidence for an aquatic stem group for either Myriapoda or Hexapoda, previously a lacuna in the body fossil record of these otherwise terrestrial lineages until the Silurian and Devonian, respectively. The trace fossil record of euthycarcinoids in the Cambrian and Ordovician reveals amphibious locomotion in tidal environments and fills a gap between molecular estimates for myriapod origins in the Cambrian and a post-Ordovician crown group fossil record.

scholarly journals Ecological innovations in the Cambrian and the origins of the crown group phyla

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1685) ◽  
pp. 20150287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham E. Budd ◽  
Illiam S. C. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Trace Fossils ◽  
The Body ◽  
Trace Fossil ◽  
Simulation Studies ◽  
Crown Group ◽  
Relative Lack ◽  
Rapid Diversification ◽  
Body Fossil

Simulation studies of the early origins of the modern phyla in the fossil record, and the rapid diversification that led to them, show that these are inevitable outcomes of rapid and long-lasting radiations. Recent advances in Cambrian stratigraphy have revealed a more precise picture of the early bilaterian radiation taking place during the earliest Terreneuvian Series, although several ambiguities remain. The early period is dominated by various tubes and a moderately diverse trace fossil record, with the classical ‘Tommotian’ small shelly biota beginning to appear some millions of years after the base of the Cambrian at ca 541 Ma. The body fossil record of the earliest period contains a few representatives of known groups, but most of the record is of uncertain affinity. Early trace fossils can be assigned to ecdysozoans, but deuterostome and even spiralian trace and body fossils are less clearly represented. One way of explaining the relative lack of clear spiralian fossils until about 536 Ma is to assign the various lowest Cambrian tubes to various stem-group lophotrochozoans, with the implication that the groundplan of the lophotrochozoans included a U-shaped gut and a sessile habit. The implication of this view would be that the vagrant lifestyle of annelids, nemerteans and molluscs would be independently derived from such a sessile ancestor, with potentially important implications for the homology of their sensory and nervous systems.

scholarly journals Fossils from the Azorejo Formation (Lower Cambrian, Central Iberian Zone) in the Guadiana river section at Picón, Ciudad Real

2019 ◽  
pp. 43-65
Author(s):  
Julián Simón López-Villalta
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Trace Fossils ◽  
The Body ◽  
River Section ◽  
Iberian Massif ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Ciudad Real ◽  
Del Rio ◽  
Body Fossil

Abstract During the Stage 3 of the Cambrian, several siliciclastic formations were deposited in a shallow platform that would become part of the Iberian Massif, containing abundant trace fossils and the conspicuous ichnospecies Astropolichnus hispanicus, endemic to southwestern Europe during the regional Ovetian stage. The fossil record of these formations has been explored mainly in northern Spain; in southern Spain, the Azorejo Formation (Azorejo Sandstone) is the only unit of this kind, but its paleobiological content has never been described in detail. In this work, the fossil record of the Azorejo Formation is documented from one of its least known outcrops: the Guadiana river section at Picón, Ciudad Real. In this section, the Azorejo Forma- tion contains a diverse trace fossil record for a neritic environment, comprising Agrichnium?, Astropolichnus hispanicus, Belorhaphe, Bergaueria cf. hemispherica, Cochlichnus, Conichnus conicus, Cruziana, Dimorphichnus, Diplichnites, Diplocraterion, Monocraterion, Monomorphichnus bilinearis, Monomorphichnus lineatus, Monomorphichnus lineatus var. giganticus, Palaeophycus, Palaeophycus cf. imbricatus, Planolites, Psammichnites, Rusophycus avalonensis?, Skolithos, Treptichnus pedum, and trace fossils similar to Nereites and Zoophycos. A structure interpreted as the body fossil of a radial organism is also described. Some of these fossils are firstly cited to the Azorejo Formation and the Lower Cambrian of the Iberian Massif. Resumen Durante la Edad 3 del Cámbrico, varias formaciones siliciclásticas fueron depositadas en una plataforma somera que habría de convertirse en parte del Macizo Ibérico, conteniendo abundantes pistas fósiles y la icnoespecie Astropolichnus hispanicus, endémica del sudoeste europeo durante el piso regional Ovetiense. El registro fósil de estas formaciones ha sido explorado principalmente en el norte de España; en el sur, la Formación Azorejo (Areniscas del Azorejo) es la única unidad de este tipo, pero su contenido paleobiológico nunca ha sido descrito en detalle. En este trabajo, el registro fósil de la Formación Azorejo es documentado para uno de sus afloramientos menos conocidos: la sección del río Guadiana en Picón, Ciudad Real. En él la Formación Azorejo contiene variadas pistas fósiles, incluyendo Agrichnium?, Astropolichnus hispanicus, Belorhaphe, Bergaueria cf. hemispherica, Cochlichnus, Conichnus conicus, Cruziana, Dimorphichnus, Diplichnites, Diplocraterion, Monocraterion, Monomorphichnus bilinearis, Monomorphichnus lineatus, Monomorphichnus lineatus var. giganticus, Palaeophycus, Palaeophycus cf. imbricatus, Planolites, Psammichnites, Rusophycus avalonensis?, Skolithos, Treptichnus pedum, una pista similar a Nereites y otra a Zoophycos. Se describe una estructura interpretada como el fósil corporal de un organismo radial. Algunos de estos fósiles se citan por primera vez para las Areniscas del Azorejo y el Cámbrico Inferior del Macizo Ibérico.

Infaunal response during the end-Permian mass extinction

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mao Luo ◽  
Luis A. Buatois ◽  
G.R. Shi ◽  
Zhong-Qiang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mass Extinction ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
The Body ◽  
Trace Fossil ◽  
Late Permian ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Permian Mass Extinction ◽  
Body Fossil

Abstract The end-Permian mass extinction (EPME) profoundly shaped shallow marine ecosystems. Although much has been learned about this event based on the body-fossil record, the global infaunal response to the EPME, as represented by ichnofossils, is much less understood. Here we analyze secular changes in ichnodiversity and ichnodisparity from the late Permian to the Middle Triassic based on a global trace-fossil data set. Results show that, in contrast to the body-fossil record, late Permian global ichnodiversity and ichnodisparity maintained their level until the Griesbachian, followed by a sharp loss in the Dienerian. Notably, the Griesbachian shows an unusual dominance of shallower tiers. The discrepancy between the body- and trace-fossil record is interpreted to be the result of the resurgence of widespread microbial matgrounds in the Griesbachian that aided the preservation of surface, semi-infaunal, and shallow-tier ichnofossils. Our study shows that the EPME strongly affected the sediment mixed layer, allowing the preservation of shallower tier trace fossils. The disappearance of the mixed layer in the earliest Triassic may have enhanced pyrite burial in sediments and inhibited its further re-oxidation, therefore impacting sea water sulfate concentrations.

scholarly journals A review of the systematic biology of fossil and living bony-tongue fishes, Osteoglossomorpha (Actinopterygii: Teleostei)

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J. Hilton ◽  
Sébastien Lavoué
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
The State ◽  
Heterogeneous Group ◽  
Marine Deposits ◽  
Evolutionary Study ◽  
Future Needs ◽  
Phylogenetic Affinities ◽  
Basal Position ◽  
Systematic Biology

ABSTRACT The bony-tongue fishes, Osteoglossomorpha, have been the focus of a great deal of morphological, systematic, and evolutionary study, due in part to their basal position among extant teleostean fishes. This group includes the mooneyes (Hiodontidae), knifefishes (Notopteridae), the abu (Gymnarchidae), elephantfishes (Mormyridae), arawanas and pirarucu (Osteoglossidae), and the African butterfly fish (Pantodontidae). This morphologically heterogeneous group also has a long and diverse fossil record, including taxa from all continents and both freshwater and marine deposits. The phylogenetic relationships among most extant osteoglossomorph families are widely agreed upon. However, there is still much to discover about the systematic biology of these fishes, particularly with regard to the phylogenetic affinities of several fossil taxa, within Mormyridae, and the position of Pantodon. In this paper we review the state of knowledge for osteoglossomorph fishes. We first provide an overview of the diversity of Osteoglossomorpha, and then discuss studies of the phylogeny of Osteoglossomorpha from both morphological and molecular perspectives, as well as biogeographic analyses of the group. Finally, we offer our perspectives on future needs for research on the systematic biology of Osteoglossomorpha.

scholarly journals Evolution of body size in anteaters and sloths (Xenarthra, Pilosa): phylogeny, metabolism, diet and substrate preferences

2015 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Toledo ◽  
M.S. Bargo ◽  
S.F. Vizcaíno ◽  
G. De Iuliis ◽  
F. Pujos
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Phylogenetic Pattern ◽  
Substrate Preferences ◽  
Size Evolution ◽  
Main Factor

ABSTRACTPilosa include anteaters (Vermilingua) and sloths (Folivora). Modern tree sloths are represented by two genera, Bradypus and Choloepus (both around 4–6 kg), whereas the fossil record is very diverse, with approximately 90 genera ranging in age from the Oligocene to the early Holocene. Fossil sloths include four main clades, Megalonychidae, Megatheriidae, Nothrotheriidae, and Mylodontidae, ranging in size from tens of kilograms to several tons. Modern Vermilingua are represented by three genera, Cyclopes, Tamandua and Myrmecophaga, with a size range from 0.25 kg to about 30 kg, and their fossil record is scarce and fragmentary. The dependence of the body size on phylogenetic pattern of Pilosa is analysed here, according to current cladistic hypotheses. Orthonormal decomposition analysis and Abouheif C-mean were performed. Statistics were significantly different from the null-hypothesis, supporting the hypothesis that body size variation correlates with the phylogenetic pattern. Most of the correlation is concentrated within Vermilingua, and less within Mylodontidae, Megatheriidae, Nothrotheriidae and Megalonychidae. Influence of basal metabolic rate (BMR), dietary habits and substrate preference is discussed. In anteaters, specialised insectivory is proposed as the primary constraint on body size evolution. In the case of sloths, mylodontids, megatheriids and nothrotheriids show increasing body size through time; whereas megalonychids retain a wider diversity of sizes. Interplay between BMR and dietary habits appears to be the main factor in shaping evolution of sloth body size.

scholarly journals Temporal ranges and ancestry in the hominin fossil record: The case of Australopithecus sediba

2018 ◽  
Vol 114 (3/4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Robinson ◽  
Timothy L. Campbell ◽  
Susanne Cote ◽  
Darryl J. de Ruiter
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Thought Experiment ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Evolutionary Relationships ◽  
Temporal Data ◽  
Genus Homo ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Fossil Hominin

In attempting to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of fossil taxa, researchers can use evidence from two sources – morphology and known temporal ranges. For most taxa, the available evidence is stronger for one of these data sources. We examined the limitations of temporal data for reconstructing hominin evolutionary relationships, specifically focusing on the hypothesised ancestor–descendant relationship between Australopithecus sediba and the genus Homo. Some have implied that because the only known specimens of A. sediba are dated to later than the earliest fossils attributed to Homo, the former species is precluded from being ancestral to the latter. However, A. sediba is currently known from one site dated to 1.98 Ma and, thus, its actual temporal range is unknown. Using data from the currently known temporal ranges of fossil hominin species, and incorporating dating error in the analysis, we estimate that the average hominin species’ temporal range is ~0.97 Myr, which is lower than most figures suggested for mammalian species generally. Using this conservative figure in a thought experiment in which the Malapa specimens are hypothesised to represent the last appearance date, the middle of the temporal range, and first appearance date for the species, the first appearance date of A. sediba would be 2.95, 2.47 and 1.98 Ma, respectively. As these scenarios are all equally plausible, and 2.95 Ma predates the earliest specimens that some have attributed to Homo, we cannot refute the hypothesis that the species A. sediba is ancestral to our genus based solely on currently available temporal data.

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