Mieridduryn, newly described Ordovician opabiniid-like animal

[Faelrin]

2022 keeps on giving for Paleozoic invertebrates. Here is the link to the paper (appears to not be paywalled):

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365377368_Ordovician_opabiniid-like_animals_and_the_role_of_the_proboscis_in_euarthropod_head_evolution

Here is an article about it:

https://phys.org/news/2022-11-welsh-weird-fossils-piece-puzzle.html

[ceratopsian]

Thanks for putting this up. How fascinating. It sounds as though the site has more discoveries to come to intrigue us.

[TheCambrianCrusader]

Ooh is this the first evidence of Ordovician opabiniids?

[Faelrin]

@TheCambrianCrusader It may or may not be from my understanding of the relevant section in the paper. So basically up in the air until more evidence is found. The wikipedia article seems to go into this a little bit as well.

[TheCambrianCrusader]

@TheCambrianCrusader It may or may not be from my understanding of the relevant section in the paper. So basically up in the air until more evidence is found. The wikipedia article seems to go into this a little bit as well.

I see, either way it's definitely an interesting find!

[Halichoeres]

Those Welsh names always get me.

Ooh is this the first evidence of Ordovician opabiniids?

Well, depends...if you consider Tullimonstrum an opabiniid that would imply a ghost lineage spanning the Ordovician  (I'm mostly kidding, but it isn't the craziest proposal for Tullimonstrum's affinity I've ever heard)

[TheCambrianCrusader]

Those Welsh names always get me.

Ooh is this the first evidence of Ordovician opabiniids?

Well, depends...if you consider Tullimonstrum an opabiniid that would imply a ghost lineage spanning the Ordovician  (I'm mostly kidding, but it isn't the craziest proposal for Tullimonstrum's affinity I've ever heard)

Oh true I forgot about that crazy idea lol