Skip to content Skip to navigation

Article: Patterns of bilateral asymmetry and allometry in Late Devonian Polygnathus conodonts

Palaeontology - Vol. 64 Part 1 - Cover Image
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 64
Part: 1
Publication Date: January 2021
Page(s): 137 159
Author(s): Sabrina Renaud, Beverley Ecalle, Pénélope Claisse, Anne‐Lise Charruault, Ronan Ledevin, and Catherine Girard
Addition Information

How to Cite

RENAUD, S., ECALLE, B., CLAISSE, P., CHARRUAULT, A., LEDEVIN, R., GIRARD, C. 2021. . Palaeontology, 64, 1, 137-159. DOI: /doi/10.1111/pala.12513

Author Information

  • Sabrina Renaud - Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558 CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon 69100 Villeurbanne France
  • Beverley Ecalle - Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM) Université Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
  • Pénélope Claisse - Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM) Université Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
  • Anne‐Lise Charruault - Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM) Université Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
  • Ronan Ledevin - Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558 CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon 69100 Villeurbanne France
  • Catherine Girard - Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM) Université Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 28 February 2021
  • Manuscript Accepted: 17 September 2020
  • Manuscript Received: 05 June 2020

Funded By

Labex CeMEB
Agence Nationale de la Recherche. Grant Number: ANR‐13-BSV7‐005

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
Get Article: Wiley Online Library [Pay-to-View Access] |

Abstract

Conodont animals were early jawless vertebrates equipped with a feeding apparatus composed of several tooth‐like elements. The P1 elements, at the rear of the apparatus, were characterized by a robust shape and rapid morphological evolution. Occlusion occurred between paired right and left P1 elements, occasioning some bilateral asymmetry, which, together with allometric growth, may partially obliterate the temporal differences. The present study aims to disentangle these different components of morphological variation in Late Devonian Polygnathus P1 conodont elements. An extensive 2D geometric morphometric analysis of the platform shape was performed through the Famennian record of two outcrops. This analysis was completed by a 3D study on a subset of conodont elements. The 2D and 3D morphometric quantifications provided highly congruent results, showing that the 2D shape constitutes a good approximation of the element geometry. The 3D analysis delivered further insights into the relationship between the geometry of the elements and the constraints related to occlusion. The 2D analysis allowed a quantitative assessment of the variation among species and through time. Allometry and bilateral asymmetry were differently expressed depending on the species considered, suggesting that constraints imposed on pairing by the morphology of the elements varied even among related species. The within‐species variation was so important that it largely obliterated temporal trends; a relationship of Polygnathus shape and conodont biofacies variations through the Famennian nevertheless suggested an evolution driven by ecological interactions between conodont genera.

PalAss Go! URL: http://go.palass.org/l9y | Twitter: Share on Twitter | Facebook: Share on Facebook | Google+: Share on Google+