Skeletal architecture of middle Cambrian spicular radiolarians revealed using micro-CT
<p>X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is used to resolve the detailed internal architecture of the siliceous skeletons of two well-preserved middle Cambrian (Miaolingian Series) radiolarians from the Inca Formation of the Georgina Basin, Australia. Digital dissections of specimens of &...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Micropalaeontology |
| Online Access: | https://www.j-micropalaeontol.net/39/61/2020/jm-39-61-2020.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is used to
resolve the detailed internal architecture of the siliceous skeletons of two
well-preserved middle Cambrian (Miaolingian Series) radiolarians from the
Inca Formation of the Georgina Basin, Australia. Digital dissections of
specimens of <i>Archeoentactinia</i> <i>incaensis</i> and <i>A. tetractinia</i>
reveal for the first time that both are exclusively
composed of tetractine spicules. A basal layer consisting of robust spicules
together with an interwoven meshwork of smaller spicules is observed in both
micro-CT models. Detailed structural analysis with the aid of a digitally
inserted artificial sphere shows that the framework spicules are likely to
have been added one by one as the radiolarian cell enlarged. The timing of
spicule genesis may be an important factor controlling the morphology of
different groups of spicular radiolarians. Observation of these fundamental
skeletal structures suggests that the type genus of Archeoentactiniidae <i>Archeoentactinia</i>
belongs to Echidninidae; thus, Archeoentactiniidae is a junior synonym of
Echidninidae.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 0262-821X 2041-4978 |