Cuticular microstructure of some Silurian homalonotid trilobites from Sweden

John E Darlingwater; Derek J Siveter; Harry Mutvei; Jonathan M Adrain; Stephen R Westrop

doi:10.1017/S002233600002775X

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Cuticular microstructure of some Silurian homalonotid trilobites from Sweden

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Cuticular microstructure of some Silurian homalonotid trilobites from Sweden

John E Darlingwater, Derek J Siveter, Harry Mutvei, Jonathan M Adrain and Stephen R Westrop

Journal of paleontology, Vol.73(2), pp.256-262

Second international trilobite conference

03/1999

DOI: 10.1017/S002233600002775X

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Abstract

Etched slices of the cuticle of the Silurian trilobite Homalonotus rhinotropis Angelin, 1854, from two localities in Skane, southern Sweden, have been examined with the scanning electron microscope. The two major subdivisions of the cuticle are a "prismatic" (originally laminated) outer layer, about 20-30 mu m thick, and a principal layer, 200-300 mu m thick, which may be foliated or roughly laminated. The original finely-laminated aspect of the outer layer may sometimes be seen as a continuous layer, but is more frequently detected as "shaped inclusions" set in a prismatic background. These "shaped inclusions" are considered to have been produced by accumulation of minerals around the apices of 3-6 mu m perpendicular canals early in calcification and preferentially preserved because of subtle differences from the products of later stages of the process. It is possible that calcification started before ecdysis. The difficulties involved in ascertaining the original structure of the principal layer are outlined, and possible reasons for differences in its preservation from the outer layer are proposed.

Arthropoda

carbonate rocks

cuticles

Europe

exoskeletons

Homalonotida

Homalonotus rhinotropis

Invertebrata

Invertebrate paleontology

Klinta Formation

limestone

Ludlow Series

microstructure

mineralization

Paleozoic

Scandinavia

sedimentary rocks

SEM data

Silurian

Skane

spicules

Sweden

Trilobita

Trilobitomorpha

Western Europe

Details

Title: Subtitle: Cuticular microstructure of some Silurian homalonotid trilobites from Sweden
Creators: John E Darlingwater - 50 Westgate Hale GBR United Kingdom
Derek J Siveter - American Museum of Natural History
Harry Mutvei - Sektionen för Paleozoologi, Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, S-10005 Stockholm, Sweden
Jonathan M Adrain - Natural History Museum, Department of Palaeontology London GBR United Kingdom
Stephen R Westrop - University of Oklahoma
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of paleontology, Vol.73(2), pp.256-262
Conference: Second international trilobite conference
Publisher: Paleontological Society
DOI: 10.1017/S002233600002775X
ISSN: 0022-3360
eISSN: 1937-2337
Alternative title: Trilobite paleobiology; past, present, and future
Language: English
Date published: 03/1999
Academic Unit: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984240784602771

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