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Cited by 140Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsPaleontology and Evolutionary BiologyEvolution and Paleontology Studies

Soft‐Bodied Fossils Are Not Simply Rotten Carcasses – Toward a Holistic Understanding of Exceptional Fossil Preservation: Exceptional Fossil Preservation Is Complex and Involves the Interplay of Numerous Biological and Geological Processes

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Parry, Luke A., Smithwick, Fiann, Nordén, Klara K., Saitta, Evan T., Lozano‐Fernandez, Jesus, Tanner, Alastair R., Caron, Jean‐Bernard, Edgecombe, Gregory D. +2 more·2018·BioEssays
DOI 10.1002/bies.201700167
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Abstract

Exceptionally preserved fossils are the product of complex interplays of biological and geological processes including burial, autolysis and microbial decay, authigenic mineralization, diagenesis, metamorphism, and finally weathering and exhumation. Determining which tissues are preserved and how biases affect their preservation pathways is important for interpreting fossils in phylogenetic, ecological, and evolutionary frameworks. Although laboratory decay experiments reveal important aspects of fossilization, applying the results directly to the interpretation of exceptionally preserved fossils may overlook the impact of other key processes that remove or preserve morphological information. Investigations of fossils preserving non-biomineralized tissues suggest that certain structures that are decay resistant (e.g., the notochord) are rarely preserved (even where carbonaceous components survive), and decay-prone structures (e.g., nervous systems) can fossilize, albeit rarely. As we review here, decay resistance is an imperfect indicator of fossilization potential, and a suite of biological and geological processes account for the features preserved in exceptional fossils.

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  • The outer sheaths most likely have an organic composition, corroborated by their dark coloration.

    “indicating low density and most likely an organic composition, corroborated by their dark coloration, perhaps due to melanin or another recalcitrant pigment [47–49”

    From Cambrian Sessile, Suspension Feeding Stem-Group Ctenophores and Evolution of the Comb Jelly Body Plan (2019) · cites this paper as [48]

    Section 4 (page unavailable) says that some fossilized structural tissues contain organic molecules and that melanin can survive in fossils. It does not discuss the outer sheaths in question or establish that their dark coloration corroborates an organic composition. (LLM, conf=0.78)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Parry, L. A., Smithwick, F., Nordén, K. K., Saitta, E. T., Lozano‐Fernandez, J., Tanner, A. R., Caron, J., Edgecombe, G. D., Briggs, D. E. G., & Vinther, J.
Affiliations
  • Natural History Museum (GB)
  • Royal Ontario Museum (CA)
  • School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
Vinther, Jakob
ORCID
Venue
BioEssays
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-11-29
Volume
40
Issue
1
ISSN
  • 0265-9247 (ISSN-L)
  • 1521-1878
DOI
10.1002/bies.201700167
OpenAlex
W2768543413
Cited by
140
References
117
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 5
FWCI
1.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BioEssays (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/L002434/, NE/L002434/1, L002434)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Keywords
exceptional preservation, soft-bodied fossils, decay resistance, autolysis, microbial decomposition, authigenic mineralization, diagenesis, notochord
MeSH terms
Animals, Biological Evolution, Fossils, Molecular Biology, Phylogeny, Preservation, Biological, Geological Phenomena

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