Nature Communications (Sep 2018)

New suspension-feeding radiodont suggests evolution of microplanktivory in Cambrian macronekton

  • Rudy Lerosey-Aubril,
  • Stephen Pates

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06229-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Planktonic life was well established by the Cambrian, but few nektonic filter feeders have been identified. Here, the authors provide fossil evidence that Pahvantia hastata was a suspension-feeder that likely captured much smaller plankton than any other known free-swimming animals of that time.