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Title
Disparate compound eyes of Cambrian radiodonts reveal their developmental growth mode and diverse visual ecology
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008:
Author(s)
Publication Date
2020-12-02
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008
Open Access
Yes
Abstract
Radiodonts are nektonic stem-group euarthropods that played various trophic roles in Paleozoic marine ecosystems, but information on their vision is limited. Optical details exist only in one species from the Cambrian Emu Bay Shale of Australia, here assigned to <I>Anomalocaris</I> aff. <I>canadensis</I> We identify another type of radiodont compound eye from this deposit, belonging to <I>'Anomalocaris' briggsi</I>. This ≤4-cm sessile eye has >13,000 lenses and a dorsally oriented acute zone. In both taxa, lenses were added marginally and increased in size and number throughout development, as in many crown-group euarthropods. Both species' eyes conform to their inferred lifestyles: The macrophagous predator <I>A</I>. aff. <I>canadensis</I> has acute stalked eyes (>24,000 lenses each) adapted for hunting in well-lit waters, whereas the suspension-feeding <I>'A.' briggsi</I> could detect plankton in dim down-welling light. Radiodont eyes further demonstrate the group's anatomical and ecological diversity and reinforce the crucial role of vision in early animal ecosystems.
Publication Type
Journal Article
Source of Publication
Science Advances, 6(49), p. 1-10
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Place of Publication
United States of America
ISSN
2375-2548
File(s) openpublished/DisparatePaterson2020JournalArticle.pdf (2.16 MB)
Published version
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
Peer Reviewed
Yes
HERDC Category Description
Peer Reviewed
Yes
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