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REPLY TO “COMMENT ON MARDEN (2013) REGARDING THE INTERPRETATION OF THE EARLIEST TRACE FOSSIL OF A WINGED INSECT”
Author(s) -
Marden James H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/evo.12093
Subject(s) - trace fossil , trace (psycholinguistics) , biology , interpretation (philosophy) , relevance (law) , carboniferous , insect , identity (music) , evolutionary biology , epistemology , paleontology , ecology , philosophy , aesthetics , linguistics , structural basin , political science , law
Benner, Knecht, and Engel have replied to my critique of their interpretation of a Carboniferous trace fossil produced by an insect at the edge of water. Here I respond by pointing out that their reiterated scenario still requires mutually exclusive paths of motion and I show that their assertions of methodological shortcomings are tangential and lack merit. Overall, this discussion provides an opportunity to examine in greater detail competing hypothesis about behaviors and taxonomic identity of the trace maker, and relevance thereof to competing theories regarding early events in the evolution of pterygote insects.