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Pedicle preservation in a Silurian rhynchonelliformean brachiopod from Herefordshire, England: soft-tissue or an artefact of interpretation?—A Reply

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2007

Mark D. Sutton ,
Derek E. G. Briggs ,
David J. Siveter  and
Derek J. Siveter
Mark D. Sutton
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BP, UK
Derek E. G. Briggs
Affiliation:
Department of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, PO Box 208109, New Haven, CT 06520–8109, USA
David J. Siveter
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
Derek J. Siveter
Affiliation:
Geological Collections, University Museum of Natural History, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK
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Abstract

We consider the reinterpretation of Bethia by Bassett et al. (2008) to be flawed in several regards. Details of the pedicle rootlets and wrinkles strongly imply a soft-tissue structure rather than calcified sheath. The ornament is unusual, but equally so under either an orthide or a plectambonitoidean model. The reinterpretation of the ‘deltial plates’ as ‘chilidial plates’ is likely correct, but argues against a plectambonitoidean affinity by implying that the pedicle emerges between the valves. Other arguments presented in favour of a plectambonitoidean affinity are also discussed; we consider them unpersuasive. Finally, we contend that Bethia is sufficiently well characterised to deserve a taxonomic name.

Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 98 , Issue 3-4: Brachiopod Research into the Third Millenium , September 2007 , pp. 309 - 310
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 2008

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