Microdictyon plates from the lower Cambrian Ajax Limestone of South Australia : implications for species taxonomy and diversity | Macquarie University ResearchOnline

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Microdictyon plates from the lower Cambrian Ajax Limestone of South Australia : implications for species taxonomy and diversity

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/137336

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Title: Microdictyon plates from the lower Cambrian Ajax Limestone of South Australia : implications for species taxonomy and diversity
Related: Alcheringa : an Australasian journal of palaeontology, Vol. 35, Issue 3, (2011), p.427-443
DOI: 10.1080/03115518.2011.533972
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Date: 2011
FoR/RFCD Code(s): 060300 Evolutionary Biology 040300 Geology
Author/Creator: Topper, Timothy P
Author/Creator: Brock, Glenn A
Author/Creator: Skovsted, Christian B
Author/Creator: Paterson, John R
Description: A small assemblage of isolated Microdictyon plates is described from the lower Cambrian Ajax Limestone, Mt Scott Range (Flinders Ranges), South Australia. Microdictyon plates are primarily known from single, isolated, perforated phosphatic sclerites; only one species (M. sinicum) from the Chengjiang Lagerstätte is known from soft-bodied preservation of the complete organism. The isolated plates from South Australia display a wide range of morphologies potentially reflecting: 1, considerable diversification within the group at this time; 2, extensive intraspecific morphological variation; 3, different plate morphotypes along the trunk of the animal; or 4, significant ontogenetic variation in successive growth stages. The South Australian specimens are similar to several individual sclerites described from other Cambrian palaeocontinents, but appear closest to faunas described from South China. Problems associated with the taxonomy of isolated Microdictyon plates are discussed, including the lack of knowledge associated with intraspecific and/or ontogenetic variability and how individual plate morphology may relate to size or relative position along the length of the complete organism.
Description: 17 page(s)
Subject Keyword: 060300 Evolutionary Biology
Subject Keyword: 040300 Geology
Subject Keyword: stem group lobopodians
Subject Keyword: small shelly fossils
Subject Keyword: sclerites
Subject Keyword: Ajax Limestone
Subject Keyword: Flinders Ranges
Subject Keyword: Gondwana
Resource Type: journal article
Organisation: Macquarie University. Dept. of Biological Sciences

Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/137336
Identifier: ISSN:1752-0754
Identifier: mq-rm-2010004727
Language: eng
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