| |
|
|
|
- Graptolites and Pterobranchs -
WEB PAGES NOT ONLY FOR GRAPTOLITERS
|
|
|
|
|
DOMINANT AND PERSISTENT RHABDOSOMAL PATTERNS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE
RICKARDS, Barrie
In: Bjerreskov, M. & Stouge, S. (Eds.) Third International Graptolite Conference Abstracts, 1985, 81.
|
|
|
It is demonstrated how very similar rhabdosomal shapes persist through long periods of time, such as the whole of the
Ordovician and Silurian, though not, of course closely related taxonomically. As these forms may be only distantly related
it is supposed that the geometrical shape adopted has some significance in terms of mode of life. That an apparently
successful genus itself does not persist, though the shape does suggest adaptation to a planktonic niche that is
impersistent - perhaps peripheral to the main water mass either in a horizontal or vertical sense. Different shapes are
plotted through time and space and speculative suggestions are made with respect to the various possible modes of life.
|
__________________________________________________________________________________
GRAPTOLITE NET
is edited and periodically updated by
Dr Piotr Mierzejewski, Count of Calmont
since 2002
|
|
|
| |
|
