Dollocaris

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.[1]

Dollocaris
Temporal range:
Reconstruction of Dollocaris ingens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Crustacea
Class:
†Thylacocephala
Order:
†Concavicarida
Family:
Dollocarididae
Genus:
†Dollocaris
Species:
D. ingens
Binomial name
Dollocaris ingens

Description

Adult specimens of Dollocaris measured over 30 cm (12 in) in length.[2] It sported a row of small appendages to assist in swimming, as well as three pairs of clawed segmented legs,[3] 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.[4][5]

Fossil specimen

References
  1. "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. 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. doi:10.1038/ncomms10320. PMC 4735654. PMID 26785293 – via www.nature.com.


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