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Per Ahlberg

Per Ahlberg

Professor emeritus

Per Ahlberg

A Tiny Eye Indicating A Planktonic Trilobite

Author

  • Brigitte Schoenemann
  • Euan N. K. Clarkson
  • Per Ahlberg
  • Maria E. D. Alvarez

Summary, in English

Cambrian trilobites mainly lived on the sea floor, and up till now few, if any, unequivocally planktonic trilobites have been reported from earlier than the Ordovician. The late Cambrian (Furongian) to late Ordovician olenids are a distinctive group of benthic (sea-floor dwelling) or nekto-benthic trilobites. Here we show, however, that one recently described, miniaturized and very spiny olenid species, Ctenopyge ceciliae must have been planktonic ( passively drifting or feebly swimming in the upper waters of the sea). This interpretation is based not only upon body form but also on the analysis of its visual system and may be one of the earliest records of the planktonic realm being invaded by trilobites.

Department/s

  • Lithosphere and Biosphere Science

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

695-701

Publication/Series

Palaeontology

Volume

53

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Geology

Keywords

  • vision
  • ecological niche
  • trilobite
  • Cambrian
  • plankton
  • arthropod

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1475-4983