1. New species of Kuqaia from the Lower Jurassic of Sweden indicates a possible water flea (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) affinity
- Author
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Peng, Jungang, Slater, Sam M, McLoughlin, Stephen, Vajda, Vivi, Peng, Jungang, Slater, Sam M, McLoughlin, Stephen, and Vajda, Vivi
- Abstract
The enigmatic acid-resistant mesofossil genus Kuqaia isemended, anew species (Kuqaia scanicus) isinstituted, and three established species are described from the Lower Jurassic (lower Pliensbachian) ofthe Ka ̈ vlinge BH-928 core, insouthern Sweden. Kuqaia has adistribution across the middle northern latitudes ofPangaea and isrestricted toLower tolower Middle Jurassic strata. Morphological characters support Kuqaia being the ephippia (resting egg/embryo cases) ofCladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda), and aprobable early stemgroup taxon ofthe Daphnia lineage. The paleoecology ofthe small planktonic crustaceans indicate purely fresh-water environments, such as lakes orponds, all occurrences being in continental deposits, and the Kuqaia specimens possibly represent dry-season resting eggs. Chemical analyses ofthese and similar fossils, and ofextant invertebrate eggs and egg cases are recommended toimprove resolution ofthe biological affiliations ofsuch mesofossil groups.
- Published
- 2023
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