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Paedomorphosis in edrioasteroid echinoderms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2016

James Sprinkle
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas; Austin, Texas 78712
Bruce M. Bell
Affiliation:
Science Service, New York State Museum; Albany, New York 12234

Abstract

Three genera of the echinoderm class Edrioasteroidea comprise the suborder Cyathocystina; each is small, has five short straight ambulacra, few thecal plates, and commonly has a modified peripheral rim with tightly sutured or fused plates. The cyathocystids appear to have evolved by paedomorphosis; they have become sexually mature “adults” while retaining a morphology similar to juveniles of isorophid edrioasteroids. This mode of evolution may have been beneficial in colonizing shallow water, nearshore, current-swept environments.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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