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Possible cellular tissue in an Ordovician graptoblast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

P. R. Crowther
Affiliation:
The City Museum, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RL, U.K.
R. B. Rickards
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, U.K.
A. Urbanek
Affiliation:
Department of Palaeontology, Unit for Graptolite Research, ul. Newelska 6, PL-01 447 Warszawa, Poland

Abstract

An encysted portion of a crustoid stolotheca of Graptoblastoides sp. has revealed possible cellular tissue, but no gross zooidal morphology. Two explanations are suggested: one regarding the cellular complex as remnants of entrapped soft parts; the other, less likely, indicating a local disturbance in the secretion of the blastocrypt material. The cellular tissue is figured and described, and the opportunity is taken to review the extent of knowledge with respect to graptolite soft parts, and to compare the structures described with features of extant Rhabdopleura species.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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