An Early Cambrian radula
Abstract
Microscopic teeth isolated from the early Cambrian Mahto Formation, Alberta, Canada, are identified as components of a molluscan radula, the oldest on record. Tooth-rows are polystichous and lack a medial rachidian tooth-column. Anterior-posterior differences in tooth-row morphology are interpreted as ontogenetic and correspond broadly to the diversity of isolated teeth, some of which correspond closely with those of extant aplacophoran molluscs. Associated pock-marked cuticular fragments are interpreted as having supported multiple biomineralized sclerites/spines in the manner of a modern chiton girdle. On the assumption that the cuticle and radula derive from the same species, there is a strong case for identifying this fossil as an aculiferan (aplacophoran + polyplacophora) mollusc, possibly a stem-group chiton. Similarities between the Mahto radula and the feeding apparatus of Wiwaxia and Odontogriphus are shown to be superficial. Terminal wear on some of the Mahto teeth indicate that they were used to scrape hard-substrates.
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The oldest radula was described from the lower Cambrian Mahto Formation (Canada).
“The oldest radula was described by Butterfield (2008) from the lower Cambrian Mahto Formation (Canada).”
From Palaeozoic evolution of animal mouthparts (2017) · cites this paper as Butterfield 2008
Cites
Peterson, K. J., & Eernisse, D. J. (2001) · Evolution & Development · doi:10.1046/j.1525-142x.2001.003003170.x · Cited by 529 · see citing works
Exceptional Fossil Preservation and the Cambrian Explosion
Butterfield, N. J. (2003) · Integrative and Comparative Biology · doi:10.1093/icb/43.1.166 · Cited by 348 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Certainly their current expression is consistent with such an interpretation: like radular teeth, these acidextractable organic-walled fossils were sclerotized extracellular structures with their residual three-dimensionality indicating significant extracellular secretion (see Butterfield, 2003).”
BackgroundResultSelf-citationEdiacaran biota: the dawn of animal life in the shadow of giant protists
SEILACHER, A., GRAZHDANKIN, D., & LEGOUTA, A. (2003) · Paleontological Research · doi:10.2517/prpsj.7.43 · Cited by 290 · see citing works
Predatorial Borings in Late Precambrian Mineralized Exoskeletons
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Darwin's dilemma: the realities of the Cambrian ‘explosion’
Conway Morris, S. (2006) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2006.1846 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Hooking some stem‐group “worms”: fossil lophotrochozoans in the Burgess Shale
Butterfield, N. J. (2006) · BioEssays · doi:10.1002/bies.20507 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Self-citationTzetlin, A., & Purschke, G. (2005) · Developments in Hydrobiology · doi:10.1007/1-4020-3240-4_12 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
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Palaeozoic evolution of animal mouthparts
Klug, C., Frey, L., Pohle, A., De Baets, K., & Korn, D. (2017) · Bulletin of Geosciences · doi:10.3140/bull.geosci.1648 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
The mouth, the anus, and the blastopore—open questions about questionable openings
Hejnol, A., & Martindale, M. Q. (2009) · Animal Evolution · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199549429.003.0004 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
EARLY MOLLUSCAN EVOLUTION: EVIDENCE FROM THE TRACE FOSSIL RECORD
SEILACHER, A., & HAGADORN, J. W. (2010) · PALAIOS · doi:10.2110/palo.2009.p09-079r · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Genomic, phylogenetic, and cell biological insights into metazoan origins
Nichols, S. A., Dayel, M. J., & King, N. (2009) · Animal Evolution · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199549429.003.0003 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
- Authors
- Butterfield, N. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Butterfield, Nicholas J.
- Venue
- Journal of Paleontology
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2008-05
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 543-554
- ISSN
- 0022-3360 (ISSN-L)
- 1937-2337
- OpenAlex
- W2177460116
- Cited by
- 62
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 7.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Paleontology (publishedVersion)
- Department of Earth Sciences EPrints Repository (acceptedVersion)
- BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Environment Research Council
- 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
- radula, Lower Cambrian, chitons, cuticle, sclerites, feeding apparatus, ontogeny, fossil molluscs
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