Siphusauctum

Sy-fus-auk-tum.
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Nisha Yadav

Physicist

Nisha Yadav is a dedicated physicist whose work bridges the gap between physics and paleontology. With a deep interest in the processes that preserve ancient life, she explores how physical principles govern fossilization and the preservation of extinct species.

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Name

Siphusauctum ‭(‬cup large‭).

Phonetic

Sy-fus-auk-tum.

Named By

Lorna J.‭ ‬O'Brien‭ & ‬Jean-Bernard Caron‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012.

Classification

Animalia,‭ ‬Bilateria,‭ ‬Siphusauctidae.

Diet

Filter feeder.

Species

S.‭ ‬gregarium

Size

Up to‭ ‬20‭ ‬centimetres.

Known locations

Canada,‭ ‬British Columbia‭ ‬-‭ ‬Burgess Shale.‭ ‬USA,‭ ‬Utah‭ ‬-‭ ‬Spence Shale.

Time Period

Mid Cambrian.

Fossil representation

Several individuals.

In Depth

       Siphusauctum is a genus of filter feeding animal that lived on sea floors during the mid Cambrian era.‭ ‬Roughly shaped like a‭ ‬bell pepper on a stick,‭ ‬the main body of Siphusauctum was attached to the sea floor with a hold fast.‭ ‬With the body held up off the sea floor,‭ ‬Siphusauctum passed water through its body.‭ ‬Any small creatures or organic particles trapped in the filters of the body would then be digested.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬A new stalked filter-feeder from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale,‭ ‬British Columbia,‭ ‬Canada.‭ ‬-‭ ‬PLoS ONE.‭ ‬7‭ (‬1‭)‬:‭ ‬e29233.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Lorna J.‭ ‬O’Brien‭ & ‬Jean-Bernard Caron‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012. -‭ ‬The stalked filter feeder Siphusauctum lloydguntheri n.‭ ‬sp.‭ ‬from the middle Cambrian‭ (‬Series‭ ‬3,‭ ‬Stage‭ ‬5‭) ‬Spence Shale of Utah:‭ ‬its biological affinities and taphonomy.‭ ‬Journal of Paleontology.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Julien Kimmig,‭ ‬Luke C.‭ ‬Strotz‭ & ‬Bruce S.‭ ‬Lieberman‭ ‬-‭ ‬2017.

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