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Some controversial aspects of the morphology and anatomy of Ostenocaris cypriformis (Crustacea, Thylacocephala)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

Giovanni Pinna ,
Paolo Arduini ,
Carlo Pesarini  and
Giorgio Teruzzi
Giovanni Pinna
Affiliation:
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, Milan, Italy.
Paolo Arduini
Affiliation:
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, Milan, Italy.
Carlo Pesarini
Affiliation:
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, Milan, Italy.
Giorgio Teruzzi
Affiliation:
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, Milan, Italy.
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Abstract

The present work deals with the structure of the cephalic part, traces of the digestive system and gills of Ostenocaris cypriformis (Thylacocephala). The structure of the cephalic part has provoked the most substantial controversy since it has been interpreted as being formed by a pair of enormous compound eyes or as a sac structure that we have called the cephalic sac. Particular attention has been devoted to the minute structure of the cephalic sac. Structures that we have previously termed ‘microsclerites’ can be readily observed, but are by no means easy to interpret.

In many specimens, the basal part of the cephalic area contains abundant traces of alimentary residues. The area thus appears to be part of the digestive system. Our observations do not enable us to give a definitive picture of the anatomical organisation of these animals but do lead to substantial corrections of previously proposed interpretations.

Keywords

anatomymorphologystructuressynonymyThylacocephala
Type
The Thylacocephala—a search for understanding
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 76 , Issue 2-3: Fossil Anthropods as Living Animals , 1985 , pp. 373 - 379
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1985

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References

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