Summary
Physical Description
Size
Description
Identification resources
Distribution and Ecology
Local distribution and microhabitat
Biogeographical distribution
Life History & Behaviour
Behaviour and locomotion
Reproduction
Feeding
Respiration
Anatomy & Physiology
External Morphology
Internal Anatomy
Evolution & Systematics
Fossil History
Phylogenetics
Conservation & Threats
References & Links
Reference List | Fossil History
The fossil history of polyplacophorans is very rich between the Cambrian and Pleistocene (Puchalski et al 2008). The first polyplacophoran fossils date back to the Upper Cambrian and surprisingly, their morphology has not changed significantly (Ponder and Lingberg 2008). Polyplacophorans are an ancient group and the minimal amount of change in morphology across the phylum, demonstrates the successfulness of their body plan.
Fossils of polyplacohphorans from the family Acanthochitonidae have been found in the Miocene and Pliocene both around Europe and Australia with the oldest Acanthochitona species fossils occurring in the Miocene, a period ranging 23-5 million years ago (Gowlett-Holmes 1998). |
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