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avancna — Duslia insignis
Published: 2008-12-13 06:28:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 2149; Favourites: 21; Downloads: 0
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Description
Eldonia berbera is the last and largest (as well as the only Ordovician) member of the genus Eldonia, a taxon of superficially jellyfish-like animals otherwise restricted to the Lower to Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale faunas. Eldonia, along with Rotadiscus and Pararotadiscus, are thought to be related to either sea cucumbers, or to lophorates like phoronids and brachiopods. It is found in Ordovician strata of what is now Morocco's Anti-Atlas Mountains.Below it is the trilobite-like arthropod Duslia insignis, that bears a strong, albeit superficial appearance to water penny beetle larvae. They are found in Ordovician strata of both Morocco and the Czech Republic.
Next to D. insignis is the diploporid cystoid Aristocystites bohemica, which looked like a scaly potato with tremendous antennae (its feeding arms), and a Y-shaped mouth.
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Comments: 3
Hmm, interesting. I've noticed most of your other reconstructions of Eldonia-like creatures portray them as benthic animals, yet this one is pelagic. Is there any particular reason for that? Or were you just trying to show both interpretations? I'm curious since I've been struggling myself with how best to portray Eldonids. I personally preffer the pelagic interpretation, though if there is strong evidence that they were benthic, I'll have to follow what the science says.
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With E. berbera, I haven't gotten around to redrawing it as a benthic animal. In this one paper, the researcher points out that the growth of epibionts suggest that the animal lay implanted in the substrate. He goes on to argue that the position of the viscera would make a "pulsating jellyfish" swimming style impossible, and that it had no internal organs suggestive of a floatation device.
[link]
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