Spirula—a window to the embryonic development of ammonoids? Morphological and molecular indications for a palaeontological hypothesis
Abstract
Nautilus is not suitable as a model organism to infer biological functions, embryonic development, or mode of life in ammonoids. A brief review of the available morphological data is given and molecular data are added to discuss the usefulness of Spirula as a biological proxy for ammonoids. Indeed, there are many morphological hints indicating that Spirula could be a useful model organism for approaching the embryonic development of ammonoids. The molecular data seem to support this hypothesis. However, a universal model character of Spirula cannot be detected as, e.g., the mode of feeding probably differs between Spirula and ammonoids.
- Publication:
-
Facies
- Pub Date:
- November 2005
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2005Faci...51...60W
- Keywords:
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- Coleoid;
- Ammonoid;
- Spirula;
- Living model organism;
- Phylogeny;
- DNA analysis