Universität zu Köln

Poschmann, Markus, Schoenemann, Brigitte and McCoy, Victoria E. (2016). Telltale eyes: the lateral visual systems of Rhenish Lower Devonian eurypterids (Arthropoda, Chelicerata) and their palaeobiological implications. Paleontology, 59 (2). S. 295 - 305. HOBOKEN: WILEY. ISSN 1475-4983

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Abstract

The compound eyes of three taxa of Rhenish Lower Devonian eurypterids are examined and compared with those known from other eurypterids and the extant horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus. The lateral eyes of the small species Rhenopterus diensti, a phylogenetically basal representative of the stylonurine clade, are characterized by a comparatively low number of lenses and high interommatidial angle phi (2.8 degrees). The comparatively limited visual capacities of R.diensti are more similar to L.polyphemus than to its closer relatives of the eurypterine clade and perhaps this reflects a progression of lateral eye structure in the evolution of eurypterids as a whole. The number of eye facets in Adelophthalmus sievertsi is higher than that in the supposed ambush predator Acutiramus cummingsi, but lower than that in other swimming' eurypterids (Eurypterina). Due to poor preservation, no other eye parameters could be analysed in this species, but further morphological attributes and geographical distribution designate the mid-sized A.sievertsi as an able swimmer. A low interommatidial angle phi of less than 1 degrees confirms that the visual capacities of Jaekelopterus rhenaniae are in line with an interpretation of this giant species as an active high-level predator. The inferred lifestyles of adult individuals of these three, co-occurring Rhenish eurypterids indicate niche differentiation avoiding to some degree the competition for food in their marginal marine to delta plain transitional habitats.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Poschmann, Markus UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schoenemann, Brigitte UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED McCoy, Victoria E. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-283405
DOI:	10.1111/pala.12228
Journal or Publication Title:	Paleontology
Volume:	59
Number:	2
Page Range:	S. 295 - 305
Date:	2016
Publisher:	WILEY
Place of Publication:	HOBOKEN
ISSN:	1475-4983
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language CRAB LIMULUS-POLYPHEMUS; MOLT-MATE HYPOTHESIS; HORSESHOE-CRAB; WINNESHIEK LAGERSTATTE; PHYLOGENY; PALEOECOLOGY; PREDATION; REVEALS; GERMANY; WILLWERATH Multiple languages Paleontology Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/28340