Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-dnltx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T15:21:45.972Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The euthycarcinoid arthropods from Montceau-les-Mines, France: functional morphology and affinities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2008

Patrick R. Racheboeuf
Affiliation:
UMR 6538 ‘Domaines Océaniques’ du CNRS, Paléontologie, UFR Sciences et Techniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 6 avenue Le Gorgeu–C.S. 93837, F-29238 Brest cedex 3, France E-mail: patrick.racheboeuf@univ-brest.fr
Jean Vannier
Affiliation:
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UMR 5125 PEPS du CNRS, Bâtiment Géode, 2 rue Raphaël Dubois, F-69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France
Frederick R. Schram
Affiliation:
Burke Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, Post Box 1567, Langley, WA 98260, USA
Dominique Chabard
Affiliation:
Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, 14 rue Saint-Antoine, F-71400 Autun, France
Daniel Sotty
Affiliation:
Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, 14 rue Saint-Antoine, F-71400 Autun, France

Abstract

New three-dimensionally preserved specimens of two euthycarcinoid arthropods, namely Schramixerxes gerem and Sottyxerxes multiplex, allow complete description of both the dorsal and ventral sides of the exoskeleton. The functional morphology is tentatively interpreted for the first time. In S. gerem, the ‘thirteenth somite’, or ‘monosomite’ is fully described and re-interpreted as the main articulatory process of the body, between the cephalic region and the preabdomen. The morphology and arrangement of the two parts of the process clearly indicate that the anterior cephalic region of the body could move laterally and bend ventrally, while posterior somites could only move ventrally. Unlike several other euthycarcinoid species, the ventral side of the head area exhibits one or two plates instead of mandibles; such distinct morphologies are indicative of different feeding mechanisms and behaviours among euthycarcinoid arthropods. Possible homologies with the labrum of Hexapoda support the hypothesis that euthycarcinoids have hexapod affinities.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)