Orthrozanclus

Or-fro-zan-klus.
By Maeve Foster
Published on

Maeve Foster

Paleoclimatologist

Maeve Foster explores the Earth's climatic past to understand the forces that shaped life on our planet. Her research into ancient climate events provides valuable context for current environmental challenges.

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Foster, M. (2014, March 2). Orthrozanclus. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/orthrozanclus/

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Name

Orthrozanclus ‭(‬Dawn scythe‭)‬.

Phonetic

Or-fro-zan-klus.

Named By

S.‭ ‬Conway Morris and J.-B.‭ ‬Caron‭ ‬-‭ ‬2007.

Classification

Animalia,‭ ‬Lophotrochozoa,‭ ‬Mollusca,‭ ‬Halkieriidae.

Diet

Detritivore‭?

Species

O.‭ ‬reburrus‭

Size

O.‭ ‬reburrus up to‭ ‬1‭ ‬centimetre long.‭ ‬O.‭ ‬elongata. Up to‭ ‬2‭ ‬centimetres long.

Known locations

Canada‭ ‬-‭ ‬Burgesss Shale.

Time Period

Mid Cambrian.

Fossil representation

Several individuals.

In Depth

       Similar to the more famous Wiwaxia,‭ ‬Orthrozanclus was a bottom dwelling oceanic organism that lived during the Cambrian.‭ ‬Orthrozanclus had sclerite scales along the body,‭ ‬and larger spines that rose up from the spines possibly for defence.‭ ‬Orthrozanclus is thought to have scoured the microbial mat of the sea floor for food.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Halwaxiids and the early evolution of lophotrochozoans.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Science‭ ‬315:1255-1258.‭ ‬-‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Conway Morris and J.-B.‭ ‬Caron‭ ‬-‭ ‬2007. -‭ ‬Orthrozanclus elongata n.‭ ‬sp.‭ ‬And the significance of sclerite-covered taxa for early trochozoan evolution.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Scientific Reports.‭ ‬7‭ (‬1‭)‬:‭ ‬16232.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Fangchen Zhao,‭ ‬Martin R.‭ ‬Smith,‭ ‬Zongjun Yin,‭ ‬Han Zeng‭ & ‬Guoxiang Li‭ & ‬Maoyan Zang‭ ‬-‭ ‬2017.

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