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Title
Carboniferous horseshoe crab musculature suggests anatomical conservatism within Xiphosurida
Author(s)
Publication Date
2022-02
Early Online Version
Open Access
Yes
Abstract
An exceptionally preserved specimen of the horseshoe crab Euproops danae (Xiphosurida, Belinurina) in a siderite concretion from the Carboniferous (Upper Pennsylvanian, Virgilian) Lawrence Formation, Kansas, shows anatomical details of the prosomal musculature. The extrinsic appendicular muscles are comparable to those of <i>Limulus polyphemus</i> (the modern American horseshoe crab), demonstrating anatomical conservatism within Xiphosurida that spans two morphologically disparate subgroups, Belinurina and Limulina. The three-dimensional preservation of muscles highlights how siderite concretion fossils (including those of the Mazon Creek Konservat-Lagerstätte) have better preservational fidelity than previously realized and the potential to reveal new anatomical information, especially with regard to the labile tissues of euarthropods.
Publication Type
Journal Article
Source of Publication
Papers in Palaeontology, 8(1), p. 1-9
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
2021-10-11
Place of Publication
United Kingdom
ISSN
2056-2802
2056-2799
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
Peer Reviewed
Yes
HERDC Category Description
Peer Reviewed
Yes
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