Pyritized Luprisca incuba Ostracod Fossil

Demonstrating Brood Care

Luprisca incuba

Subphylum Crustacea, Class Ostracoda, Order Myocopodida

Geological Time: Late Ordovician

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 3 mm long on a 50 mm by 40 mm matrix

Fossil Site: Whetstone Gulf Formation, Lewis County, New York

Fossil Code: O02

Price: Sold


Luprisca incubaDescription: Until 2014, ostracods were only known from bivalved shells. Due to the fact that a number of other Ostracodaarthropods possess such shell, this evidence was not definitive. With the discovery of these specimens showing soft tissue preservation, the record is now confirmed. Not only are soft tissues such as limbs preserved, embryos and juveniles have been found, demonstrating that this ostracod exhibited brood care some 450 million years ago, just as do myodocope ostracods today. This one clearly shows the antennae and embryos within, a fine example of the first and as yet only fossil invertebrate that demonstrates such care. This is the only example I have to offer.

Reference: Current Biology 24, March 31, 2014, pp1-6.

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Luprisca incuba
 
 

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