Rhabdopleura

Rhabdopleura
Temporal range: Middle Cambrian–Recent
Rhabdopleura normani Sedgwick
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Hemichordata
Class:
Pterobranchia
Subclass:
Graptolithina
Family:
Rhabdopleuridae
Genus:
Rhabdopleura

Allmann, 1869
Type species
Rhabdopleura normani
Allmann, 1869
Species

See text.

Rhabdopleura is a genus of colonial sessile hemichordates belonging to the Pterobranchia class. As one of the oldest living genera with a fossil record dating back to the Middle Cambrian, it is also considered to be the only living genus of graptolites.[1]

Rhabdopleura is the best studied pterobranch in developmental biology.[2] Research in the 2010s by Jörg Maletz and other paleontologists and biologists have demonstrated that Rhabdopleura is an extant graptolite.[3][4]

  1. ^ Maletz, Jörg (2017). Graptolite Paleobiology. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9781118515617.
  2. ^ Sato, A; Bishop JDD; Holland PWH (2008). "Developmental biology of pterobranch hemichordates: history and perspectives". Genesis. 46 (11): 587–91. doi:10.1002/dvg.20395. PMID 18798243.
  3. ^ Sato, A; Rickards, RB; Holland PWH (2008). "The origins of graptolites and other pterobranchs: a journey from 'Polyzoa'". Lethaia. 41 (4): 303–316. Bibcode:2008Letha..41..303S. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2008.00123.x.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Charles E.; Michael J. Melchin; Chris B. Cameron; Jörg Maletz (2012). "Phylogenetic analysis reveals that Rhabdopleura is an extant graptolite". Lethaia. 46: 34–56. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2012.00319.x. ISSN 0024-1164.