Dollocaris

Dollocaris
Temporal range: Jurassic
Reconstruction of Dollocaris ingens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: †Thylacocephala
Order: †Conchyliocarida
Family: †Dollocarididae
Genus: †Dollocaris
van Straelen 1923
Type species
Dollocaris ingens

Dollocaris is an extinct genus of thylacocephalan that lived during the Jurassic period. Fossils have been found in France, specifically the La Voulte-sur-Rhône lagerstätte. It is known for its massive compound eyes, giving Dollocaris a rather characteristic appearance. One species is currently known, D. ingens.

Description

Adult specimens of Dollocaris measured over 30 cm (12 in) in length. It sported a row of small appendages to assist in swimming, as well as three pairs of clawed segmented legs, but it was probably a poor swimmer, instead depending on ambush to hunt prey. It is known for its well-preserved, large compound eyes, sporting well-preserved individual retinula cells, which assisted in catching prey.

Fossil specimen

References

  1. 1 2 "Fossil specimen - Dollocaris ingens VAN STRAELEN, 1923". science.mnhn.fr.
  2. ↑ Charbonnier, Sylvain; Vannier, Jean; Hantzpergue, Pierre; Gaillard, Christian (2010). "Ecological Significance of the Arthropod Fauna from the Jurassic (Callovian) La Voulte Lagerstätte". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 55 (1): 111–132. Bibcode:2010AcPaP..55..111C. doi:10.4202/app.2009.0036. ISSN 0567-7920.
  3. ↑ "Extinct crustacean Dollocaris was all eyes". phys.org.
  4. ↑ "All eyes on me: Jurassic crustacean had largest peepers". Earth Archives.
  5. ↑ Vannier, Jean; Schoenemann, Brigitte; Gillot, Thomas; Charbonnier, Sylvain; Clarkson, Euan (January 19, 2016). "Exceptional preservation of eye structure in arthropod visual predators from the Middle Jurassic". Nature Communications. 7 (1) 10320. Bibcode:2016NatCo...710320V. doi:10.1038/ncomms10320. PMC 4735654. PMID 26785293 – via www.nature.com.