Biology:Haplophrentis

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Haplophrentis is a genus of tiny shelled hyolithid which lived in the Cambrian Period. Its shell was long and conical, with the open end protected by an operculum, from which two fleshy arms called helens protruded at the sides. These arms served to elevate the opening of the shells above the sea floor, acting like stilts.[1]

Morphology

Shell length of H. reesi reached up to 4.6 centimetres (1.8 in) while H. carinatus reached up to 3.05 centimetres (1.20 in). Juveniles could of course be smaller.[1] It is distinguished from Hyolithes by the presence of a longitudinal septum on the middle of the inner surface of the top of the shell.[2]

Its soft anatomy comprises 12 (H. carinatus) to 16 (H. reesi) tentacles attached to a horseshoe-shaped lophophore. A pair of wide structures of uncertain function extend along the length of the conical shell. A larval shell is attached to the shell apex.[1]

Affinity

The soft anatomy of Haplophrentis was key to establishing the hyoliths as members of the Lophophorata, the group containing brachiopods and phoronids.[1] While some studies supported this interpretation,[3][4] other studies considered hyoliths as basal lophotrochozoans[5] or mollusks.[6][7]

Ecology

Haplophrentis was a filter feeder, using its lophophore to extract organic matter from passing seawater.[1] Specimens of Haplophrentis have been found in the gut of the predator Ottoia.

Occurrence

186 specimens of Haplophrentis are known from the Greater Phyllopod bed, where they comprise 0.35% of the community.[8] It is also known from several specimens in the Spence Shale, and occurs prolifically at the Marble Canyon locality. Many specimens at Stanley Glacier display soft tissue well.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Moysiuk, Joseph; Smith, Martin R.; Caron, Jean-Bernard (2017). "Hyoliths are Palaeozoic lophophorates". Nature 541 (7637): 394–397. doi:10.1038/nature20804. PMID 28077871. Bibcode2017Natur.541..394M. http://dro.dur.ac.uk/20195/1/20195.pdf. 
  2. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Babcock1988
  3. Sun, Haijing; Smith, Martin R.; Zeng, Han; Zhao, Fangchen; Li, Guoxiang; Zhu, Maoyan (2018-09-26). "Hyoliths with pedicles illuminate the origin of the brachiopod body plan". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 285 (1887). doi:10.1098/rspb.2018.1780. PMID 30257914. 
  4. Smith, Martin R (2019-11-27). "Finding a home for hyoliths". National Science Review 7 (2): 470–471. doi:10.1093/nsr/nwz194. ISSN 2095-5138. PMID 34692061. 
  5. Liu, Fan; Skovsted, Christian B; Topper, Timothy P; Zhang, Zhifei; Shu, Degan (2020-02-01). "Are hyoliths Palaeozoic lophophorates?". National Science Review 7 (2): 453–469. doi:10.1093/nsr/nwz161. ISSN 2095-5138. PMID 34692060. 
  6. Li, Luoyang; Zhang, Xingliang; Skovsted, Christian B.; Yun, Hao; Pan, Bing; Li, Guoxiang (2019). Smith, Andrew. ed. "Homologous shell microstructures in Cambrian hyoliths and molluscs" (in en). Palaeontology 62 (4): 515–532. doi:10.1111/pala.12406. Bibcode2019Palgy..62..515L. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pala.12406. 
  7. Li, Luoyang; Skovsted, Christian B.; Yun, Hao; Betts, Marissa J.; Zhang, Xingliang (2020-08-26). "New insight into the soft anatomy and shell microstructures of early Cambrian orthothecids (Hyolitha)". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287 (1933). doi:10.1098/rspb.2020.1467. PMID 32811320. 
  8. Caron, Jean-Bernard; Jackson, Donald A. (October 2006). "Taphonomy of the Greater Phyllopod Bed community, Burgess Shale". PALAIOS 21 (5): 451–65. doi:10.2110/palo.2003.P05-070R. Bibcode2006Palai..21..451C. 

Wikidata ☰ Q2309087 entry