New scolecodonts (polychaeta, annelida) from the Late Silurian of Yunnan, South China
Abstract Scolecodonts are the fossilised jaw apparatus of polychaetes, with fossil records dating back to the Late Cambrian. However, they are commonly found in Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian strata. Here, we describe three species—Langeites aff. glaber, Langeites sp., and Oenonites spp. from the...
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SpringerOpen
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Swiss Journal of Palaeontology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-025-00362-9 |
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| author | Danxia Gao Cen Shen Liebin Huang Liurunxuan Chen Shitao Zhang Yimin Tian Yujing Li |
| author_facet | Danxia Gao Cen Shen Liebin Huang Liurunxuan Chen Shitao Zhang Yimin Tian Yujing Li |
| author_sort | Danxia Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Scolecodonts are the fossilised jaw apparatus of polychaetes, with fossil records dating back to the Late Cambrian. However, they are commonly found in Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian strata. Here, we describe three species—Langeites aff. glaber, Langeites sp., and Oenonites spp. from the Miaogao Formation in Yiliang, Yunnan, South China. A comparative morphological study on the maxillary apparatus of the family Paulinidae and the extant members of Eunicidae and Onuphidae was conducted. This study aims to evaluate evolutionary changes in the maxillary apparatus, particularly the first maxilla, within the eulabidognatha-type apparatus. To infer their palaeoecology, Langeites aff. glaber and Langeites sp. were compared with modern species of Eunicidae and Onuphidae based on their complex maxillary apparatus. The similarity between these fossil and extant taxa suggests that Langeites retained similar feeding habits over time. These scolecodonts represent a new record for the Late Silurian of South China, and extend the geographical range of the genus Langeites. As a genus restricted to the Silurian, Langeites has potential applications in stratigraphic correlation for the Late Ludlow to Early Pridoli. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0c6da2faabf24b449f27cacd33f86656 |
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| issn | 1664-2376 1664-2384 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
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| series | Swiss Journal of Palaeontology |
| spelling | doaj-art-0c6da2faabf24b449f27cacd33f866562025-08-20T02:15:05ZengSpringerOpenSwiss Journal of Palaeontology1664-23761664-23842025-05-01144111410.1186/s13358-025-00362-9New scolecodonts (polychaeta, annelida) from the Late Silurian of Yunnan, South ChinaDanxia Gao0Cen Shen1Liebin Huang2Liurunxuan Chen3Shitao Zhang4Yimin Tian5Yujing Li6Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and TechnologyFaculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and TechnologyCAGS/Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR & GZAR/International Research Center on Karst Under the Auspices of UNESCO, Institute of Karst GeologyFaculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and TechnologyFaculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and TechnologyFaculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and TechnologyYunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal UniversityAbstract Scolecodonts are the fossilised jaw apparatus of polychaetes, with fossil records dating back to the Late Cambrian. However, they are commonly found in Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian strata. Here, we describe three species—Langeites aff. glaber, Langeites sp., and Oenonites spp. from the Miaogao Formation in Yiliang, Yunnan, South China. A comparative morphological study on the maxillary apparatus of the family Paulinidae and the extant members of Eunicidae and Onuphidae was conducted. This study aims to evaluate evolutionary changes in the maxillary apparatus, particularly the first maxilla, within the eulabidognatha-type apparatus. To infer their palaeoecology, Langeites aff. glaber and Langeites sp. were compared with modern species of Eunicidae and Onuphidae based on their complex maxillary apparatus. The similarity between these fossil and extant taxa suggests that Langeites retained similar feeding habits over time. These scolecodonts represent a new record for the Late Silurian of South China, and extend the geographical range of the genus Langeites. As a genus restricted to the Silurian, Langeites has potential applications in stratigraphic correlation for the Late Ludlow to Early Pridoli.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-025-00362-9ScolecodontsMicrofossilPolychaetaSilurianSouth China |
| spellingShingle | Danxia Gao Cen Shen Liebin Huang Liurunxuan Chen Shitao Zhang Yimin Tian Yujing Li New scolecodonts (polychaeta, annelida) from the Late Silurian of Yunnan, South China Swiss Journal of Palaeontology Scolecodonts Microfossil Polychaeta Silurian South China |
| title | New scolecodonts (polychaeta, annelida) from the Late Silurian of Yunnan, South China |
| title_full | New scolecodonts (polychaeta, annelida) from the Late Silurian of Yunnan, South China |
| title_fullStr | New scolecodonts (polychaeta, annelida) from the Late Silurian of Yunnan, South China |
| title_full_unstemmed | New scolecodonts (polychaeta, annelida) from the Late Silurian of Yunnan, South China |
| title_short | New scolecodonts (polychaeta, annelida) from the Late Silurian of Yunnan, South China |
| title_sort | new scolecodonts polychaeta annelida from the late silurian of yunnan south china |
| topic | Scolecodonts Microfossil Polychaeta Silurian South China |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-025-00362-9 |
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