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Cephalodiscus graptolitoides sp. nov. a probable extant graptolite
Author(s) -
Dilly P. N.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1993.tb02621.x
Subject(s) - extant taxon , biology , zoology , fossil record , paleontology , group (periodic table) , evolutionary biology , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry
A new species of pterobranch has been found that has features that could resolve the longstanding arguments by palaeontologists about how the fossil graptolites produced their elaborate extra‐corporeal homes. Many complex and biologically highly unlikely solutions previously proposed can be simplified. This animal is probably classifiable as a graptolite and thus a living fossil, representing a group thought to be extinct for 300 million years.