Abnormal trilobites from the Silurian and Devonian of Europe

Russell D.C. Bicknell; Patrick M. Smith; Lisa Amati; Melanie J. Hopkins

doi:10.4202/app.01229.2024

Abnormal trilobites from the Silurian and Devonian of Europe

Russell D.C. Bicknell, Patrick M. Smith, Lisa Amati, Melanie J. Hopkins

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Malformed trilobites have been documented in deposits ranging from the Cambrian to the Permian. Continued examination of novel malformed specimens provides insight into how trilobites recovered from injuries, experienced genetic abnormalities, and adapted to pathological conditions. This study focuses on trilobites from the Silurian and Devonian of Europe, presenting new records of: (i) a moulting-related injury in Lioharpes venulosus; (ii) genetic malformations in Calymene blumenbachii and Treveropyge sp.; and (iii) a moulting injury or genetic anomaly in Scutellum (Scutellum) pardalios. Additionally, we record evidence of bryozoan growth on a C. blumenbachii specimen. Our findings provide important data for contextualizing the paleobiology of early and middle Paleozoic trilobites, especially related to responses to ecological pressures.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	205-212
Number of pages	8
Journal	Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
Volume	70
Issue number	2
Early online date	22 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4202/app.01229.2024
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2025. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

Calymene
evolution
injuries
Lioharpes
malformations
Scutellum
teratologies
Treveropyge
Trilobita

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10.4202/app.01229.2024

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 1.2 MBLicence: CC BY

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title = "Abnormal trilobites from the Silurian and Devonian of Europe",

abstract = "Malformed trilobites have been documented in deposits ranging from the Cambrian to the Permian. Continued examination of novel malformed specimens provides insight into how trilobites recovered from injuries, experienced genetic abnormalities, and adapted to pathological conditions. This study focuses on trilobites from the Silurian and Devonian of Europe, presenting new records of: (i) a moulting-related injury in Lioharpes venulosus; (ii) genetic malformations in Calymene blumenbachii and Treveropyge sp.; and (iii) a moulting injury or genetic anomaly in Scutellum (Scutellum) pardalios. Additionally, we record evidence of bryozoan growth on a C. blumenbachii specimen. Our findings provide important data for contextualizing the paleobiology of early and middle Paleozoic trilobites, especially related to responses to ecological pressures.",

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author = "Bicknell, \{Russell D.C.\} and Smith, \{Patrick M.\} and Lisa Amati and Hopkins, \{Melanie J.\}",

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year = "2025",

doi = "10.4202/app.01229.2024",

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AU - Bicknell, Russell D.C.

AU - Smith, Patrick M.

AU - Amati, Lisa

AU - Hopkins, Melanie J.

N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2025. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Malformed trilobites have been documented in deposits ranging from the Cambrian to the Permian. Continued examination of novel malformed specimens provides insight into how trilobites recovered from injuries, experienced genetic abnormalities, and adapted to pathological conditions. This study focuses on trilobites from the Silurian and Devonian of Europe, presenting new records of: (i) a moulting-related injury in Lioharpes venulosus; (ii) genetic malformations in Calymene blumenbachii and Treveropyge sp.; and (iii) a moulting injury or genetic anomaly in Scutellum (Scutellum) pardalios. Additionally, we record evidence of bryozoan growth on a C. blumenbachii specimen. Our findings provide important data for contextualizing the paleobiology of early and middle Paleozoic trilobites, especially related to responses to ecological pressures.

AB - Malformed trilobites have been documented in deposits ranging from the Cambrian to the Permian. Continued examination of novel malformed specimens provides insight into how trilobites recovered from injuries, experienced genetic abnormalities, and adapted to pathological conditions. This study focuses on trilobites from the Silurian and Devonian of Europe, presenting new records of: (i) a moulting-related injury in Lioharpes venulosus; (ii) genetic malformations in Calymene blumenbachii and Treveropyge sp.; and (iii) a moulting injury or genetic anomaly in Scutellum (Scutellum) pardalios. Additionally, we record evidence of bryozoan growth on a C. blumenbachii specimen. Our findings provide important data for contextualizing the paleobiology of early and middle Paleozoic trilobites, especially related to responses to ecological pressures.

KW - Calymene

KW - evolution

KW - injuries

KW - Lioharpes

KW - malformations

KW - Scutellum

KW - teratologies

KW - Treveropyge

KW - Trilobita

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105007775408

UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT120100770

U2 - 10.4202/app.01229.2024

DO - 10.4202/app.01229.2024

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105007775408

SN - 0567-7920

VL - 70

SP - 205

EP - 212

JO - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

JF - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

IS - 2

ER -

Abnormal trilobites from the Silurian and Devonian of Europe

Abstract

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Keywords

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