Biology:Marocella

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Short description: Genus of molluscs

Marocella
Temporal range: Early-Middle Cambrian
~516–505 Ma
Marocella.jpg
Marocella
source: Evans, 1992
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Class:
Binomial name
Marocella
Geyer 1986[1]
Type species
Marocella mira
Species
  • M. antiqua
  • M. australica
  • M. depressa
  • M. mira
  • M. morenensis
  • M. tichkaensis

Marocella is a conical shelly fossil of uncertain affinity (probably a mollusc) known from Cambrian strata of Europe, Morocco, Australia and Antarctica.[2]

Morphology

Limpet-like Marocella is a low conical shell with concentric ridges that grew to a couple of centimetres in length.[3]

Affinity

Marocella is thought to be a mollusc, although its position within this phylum is undetermined.[3] Relationship to the halkieriids has also been considered.[2]

Ecology

Some specimens show evidence of repairing damage caused by predators.[3] It probably moved around on the sea floor.[3] It was geographically widespread.[3]

Distribution

Fossils of Marocella have been found in:[4]

References

  1. Geyer, G. (1986). "Mittelkambrische Mollusken aus Marokko und Spanien" (in German). Senckenbergiana Lethaea 67: 55–118. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Evans, K. R. (1992). "Marocella: Antarctic Specimens of an Enigmatic Cambrian Animal". Journal of Paleontology 66 (4): 558–562. doi:10.1017/s0022336000024422. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Skovsted, C. B.; Brock, G. A.; Lindström, A.; Peel, J. S.; Paterson, J. R.; Fuller, M. K. (2007). "Early Cambrian record of failed durophagy and shell repair in an epibenthic mollusc". Biology Letters 3 (3): 314–317. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0006. PMID 17412671. 
  4. Marocella at Fossilworks.org

Wikidata ☰ Q6772285 entry