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Late Paleozoic Ophiuroid Biodiversity Based On A Diverse Fauna From The Indian Springs Shale Member Of The Big Clifty Formation, Sulphur, Indiana, Usa, Nicholas Scott Smith

Masters Theses

Ophiuroids (brittle stars and basket stars) are a diverse echinoderm group (i.e. star fish, sea urchins, and sea lilies) found in almost all marine environments and often major components of seafloor communities. Originating in the early to middle Devonian, the group quickly diversified and is today the most species rich echinoderm clade. Unfortunately, our knowledge of their diversity and evolutionary pathways during the Late Paleozoic has been understudied leaving a large gap in our understanding of their true biodiversity. This can be attributed to study methods and a poor understanding of Paleozoic ophiuroid skeletal morphology. Ophiuroid skeletons are composed of …