Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-l4dxg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-11T15:55:00.609Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Pedicle preservation in a Silurian rhynchonelliformean brachiopod from Herefordshire, England: soft-tissue or an artefact of interpretation?—A Reply

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2007

Mark D. Sutton ,
Derek E. G. Briggs ,
David J. Siveter  and
Derek J. Siveter
Mark D. Sutton
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BP, UK
Derek E. G. Briggs
Affiliation:
Department of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, PO Box 208109, New Haven, CT 06520–8109, USA
David J. Siveter
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
Derek J. Siveter
Affiliation:
Geological Collections, University Museum of Natural History, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We consider the reinterpretation of Bethia by Bassett et al. (2008) to be flawed in several regards. Details of the pedicle rootlets and wrinkles strongly imply a soft-tissue structure rather than calcified sheath. The ornament is unusual, but equally so under either an orthide or a plectambonitoidean model. The reinterpretation of the ‘deltial plates’ as ‘chilidial plates’ is likely correct, but argues against a plectambonitoidean affinity by implying that the pedicle emerges between the valves. Other arguments presented in favour of a plectambonitoidean affinity are also discussed; we consider them unpersuasive. Finally, we contend that Bethia is sufficiently well characterised to deserve a taxonomic name.

Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 98 , Issue 3-4: Brachiopod Research into the Third Millenium , September 2007 , pp. 309 - 310
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 2008