Possible predation damage and repair in a Quaternary marine ostracod |
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| Authors: | He Wang Hua Xu Haichun Zhang Meizhen Cao David J. Horne |
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| Affiliation: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 China;2. Shandong Institute of Geological Survey, Jinan, 250013 China;3. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 China;4. School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS UK |
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| Abstract: | Evidence of damage and repair in a Quaternary fossil brackish-marine ostracod is described. The specimen is a right valve of Bicornucythere bisanensis from the Laizhou Bay, eastern China, showing distortion in the posterior region, interpreted as a possible bite mark resulting from attempted predation on the ostracod. Comparison with undamaged specimens from the same assemblage suggests that the damage occurred just after the ostracod had moulted and was still in a ‘soft-shell’ state, before the new bivalved carapace was calcified, and that subsequent calcification preserved the resulting distortion of the reticulate surface ornament. This implies that the ostracod survived the damage and was able to heal and repair its shell. As far as we are aware, this is the first such example to be documented in Ostracoda although similar occurrences have been recorded in other fossil arthropods. |
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| Keywords: | Damage Laizhou Bay ostracod predation Quaternary repair |
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