On such a day it is appropriate to post a news item about everybody’s favourite extinct arthropod.
Last week Science Daily carried an item concerning the occasional discovery of an entire population of fossilized trilobites.
From such finds Carlton E. Brett, University of Cincinnati professor of geology, is able to find evidence for ancient environment and Trilobite behaviour Brett has analyzed multiple examples of mass trilobite burial.
"We find moulted pieces lying immediately adjacent to each other," he said. "This is proof that the sediments were not significantly disturbed after burial."
Like modern crabs and lobsters, trilobites appear to have gathered in large groups for protection when they shed their protective exoskeletons. During moulting, there was safety in numbers. And, like their modern cousins, trilobites seem to have used these molting gatherings as opportunities for mating.
The mass burials preserve large groups of similar-sized -- and therefore similarly aged -- specimens, segregated by species and, after molting, "naked."…
Which lead Professor Brett to come to the following conclusion:
"It's an orgy,"
The article goes on to consider evidence for migration but… orgies? ORGIES!
Perhaps trilobites were the progenitors of the polyamorists..
But enough of the possible sexual antics of trilobites it is good to see beloved fossils make news!
University of Cincinnati (2011, March 17). Fossils record reveals ancient migrations, trilobite mass matings. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2011/03/110316152939.htm
Last week Science Daily carried an item concerning the occasional discovery of an entire population of fossilized trilobites.
From such finds Carlton E. Brett, University of Cincinnati professor of geology, is able to find evidence for ancient environment and Trilobite behaviour Brett has analyzed multiple examples of mass trilobite burial.
"We find moulted pieces lying immediately adjacent to each other," he said. "This is proof that the sediments were not significantly disturbed after burial."
Like modern crabs and lobsters, trilobites appear to have gathered in large groups for protection when they shed their protective exoskeletons. During moulting, there was safety in numbers. And, like their modern cousins, trilobites seem to have used these molting gatherings as opportunities for mating.
The mass burials preserve large groups of similar-sized -- and therefore similarly aged -- specimens, segregated by species and, after molting, "naked."…
Which lead Professor Brett to come to the following conclusion:
"It's an orgy,"
The article goes on to consider evidence for migration but… orgies? ORGIES!
Perhaps trilobites were the progenitors of the polyamorists..
But enough of the possible sexual antics of trilobites it is good to see beloved fossils make news!
University of Cincinnati (2011, March 17). Fossils record reveals ancient migrations, trilobite mass matings. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2011/03/110316152939.htm
