Bringing 400-million-year-old fossilized armored worms to `virtual' life


Date:
November 30, 2021
Source:
University of Missouri-Columbia
Summary:
Scientists have documented the discovery of two new species of
fossilized armored worms in Australia -- Lepidocoleus caliburnus
and Lepidocoleus shurikenus -- dating from about 400 million years
ago. Then, using the micro-CT imaging capabilities of the MU X-ray
Microanalysis Core facility, the researchers were able to develop
first-of-its-kind digital 3D-models of the species' individual
armor plates by virtually examining the armored skeletons of these
ancient worms, called machaeridians.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
An international team of scientists from the United States and Australia,
led by Sarah Jacquet at the University of Missouri, has documented the discovery of two new species of fossilized armored worms in Australia -- Lepidocoleus caliburnus and Lepidocoleus shurikenus -- dating from about
400 million years ago. Then, using the micro-CT imaging capabilities
of the MU X-ray Microanalysis Core facility, the researchers were
able to develop first-of-its- kind digital 3D-models of the species'
individual armor plates by virtually examining the armored skeletons of
these ancient worms, called machaeridians.


========================================================================== Jacquet, an assistant professor of geological sciences in the MU College
of Arts and Science, believes this study offers a new way for scientists
to investigate how different biological armored systems worked throughout
the fossil record.

"By using micro-CT, we can virtually separate the individual components of
the armor," Jacquet said. "That allows us to see how it protected these
worms until, unfortunately, they went extinct during one of the major extinction events in the fossil record. We are able to manipulate the
virtual models to determine how the individual armor pieces moved relative
to each other, as well as determine the degree of overlap between them."
At the time of their existence, these worms were likely living near
coral reefs in shallow water on what is now land in Australia. The
study identified these worms to have two overlapping armor systems --
one going down the length of the organism's skeleton, and the other down
both sides of the worm. While no direct correlations have been made yet
between these worms and any modern species, Jacquet believes her study
can deepen our understanding of convergent evolution.

"Convergent evolution is where different and unrelated groups adapt
similar features," Jacquet said. "While this armor is a rather unique adaptation, and one that clearly does well for particular environments
and protecting against particular predators, we do see other similar adaptations in a couple of unrelated animal groups, such as pangolins,
pill bugs and millipedes." Jacquet said Lepidocoleus caliburnus is
named after the famous sword "Excalibur" from the Arthurian legend, andLepidocoleus shurikenusis named for its resemblance to the outline of shuriken, the Japanese word for throwing stars. She said future plans
for this work include using virtual models to study how these armor
systems fared against different types of stressors, such as under a
predator attack.

"Sclerite assembly, articulation and protective system of Lower Devonian machaeridians," was published in Papers in Paleontology. Other authors
include Tara Selly and Jim Schiffbauer at MU, and Glenn Brock, who has
dual appointments at Macquarie University in Australia and Northwest
University in China.

Funding was provided by grants from the National Science Foundation
(EAR CAREER-1652351 and EAR/IF-1636643) and internal research development grants from Macquarie University. The content is solely the responsibility
of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of
the funding agencies.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Missouri-Columbia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sarah M. Jacquet, Tara Selly, James D. Schiffbauer, Glenn A. Brock.

Sclerite assembly, articulation and protective system of Lower
Devonian machaeridians. Papers in Palaeontology, 2021; DOI:
10.1002/spp2.1410 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211130173955.htm

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