4.2 Article

Moulting in the Cambrian oryctocephalid trilobiteArthricocephalites xinzhaiheensisfrom Guizhou Province, South China

Journal

LETHAIA
Volume 54, Issue 2, Pages 211-228

Publisher

SCANDINAVIAN UNIV PRESS-UNIVERSITETSFORLAGET AS
DOI: 10.1111/let.12398

Keywords

Arthricocephalites xinzhaiheensis; Balang Formation; Cambrian; exuviae; moulting behaviours; South China

Categories

Funding

  1. National Natural Science Foundation of China [41672005]
  2. Guizhou Science and Technology Department Foundation of China [Gui. Sci. Z. [2014]4003, Gui Sci G[2017] 5788, Gui. Sci. [2019] 1124]
  3. Chinese Academy of Sciences [XDB2600000]

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Understanding the moulting behavior of trilobites through different growth stages, this study focuses on the detailed exploration of moulting behaviors in Arthricocephalites xinzhaiheensis based on a large number of disarticulated specimens. The findings show that the trilobites commonly utilized cephalic sutures and cephalothoracic joint for moulting, involving rotation or inversion of the cranidium to create a wide exuvial gape.
It is important to understand moulting behaviours in trilobites through different growth stages. Most studies have focused on patterns of moulting in trilobites based on a few exuviae. The present study is based on 177 disarticulated specimens ofArthricocephalites xinzhaiheensisfrom the Balang Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4, Guizhou Province, South China). The abundance of disarticulated assemblages allows the distinction between carcasses and exuviae to be made with confidence and enables a detailed exploration of moulting behaviours. About 96.6% of exuviae of both meraspides and holaspides ofAr. xinzhaiheensisshow a disarticulated cranidium characterizing Henningsmoen's configuration. The trilobites commonly used the cephalic sutures and cephalothoracic joint for moulting, involving lateral rotation or inversion of the cranidium to create a wide exuvial gape. Only one specimen displays the Somersault configuration characterized by an overturned lower cephalic unit and the data also show that trilobites employing the cephalic sutures to create an anterior exuvial gape are rare in holaspides. Though some specimens are similar to Salter's configuration with an inverted cephalon with respect to the thoracopygon, the specimens show closed cephalic sutures and thus dissociated or inverted cephala are likely to represent disturbed carcasses. Several other species of oryctocephalid trilobites display Henningsmoen's configuration indicating that exuviation by disarticulated cranidium to enlarge the exuvial gape was prevalent in the family from Cambrian Series 2 Stage 4 to the succeeding Wuliuan Stage of the Miaolingian Series.

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