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Fossil barnacles from the Antarctic Peninsula: refining ways of exploring the nature of rare and/or delicate specimens employing X-ray Computer Tomography (CT)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2020

Jeffrey D. Stilwell Open the ORCID record for Jeffrey D. Stilwell [Opens in a new window] ,
John St. J. S. Buckeridge ,
Joseph J. Bevitt Open the ORCID record for Joseph J. Bevitt [Opens in a new window]  and
David Zahra
Jeffrey D. Stilwell
Affiliation:
School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, 9 Rainforest Walk, ClaytonVIC3800, Australia
John St. J. S. Buckeridge
Affiliation:
Earth and Oceanic Systems Group, RMIT, GPO Box 2476, VIC3001, Australia Museums Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia
Joseph J. Bevitt
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawara Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia ,
David Zahra
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawara Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia ,
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Abstract

Assessment of unique and potentially significant fossils may be considerably compromised by surrounding matrix. This paper assesses a fossil barnacle group from the mid to late Eocene of Seymour Island, off the Antarctic Peninsula, that potentially has very significant phylogenetic importance. It discusses why the specimen could be significant, and describes and applies as a proof of concept an advanced imaging technique, using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT), that was effectively employed to confirm systematic taxonomy with virtual 3-D sections through the specimen. In this case, the Antarctic barnacle's complex internal plate morphologies were resolved by advanced 3-D imaging, such that a taxonomic attribution could be made to either the Archaeobalanidae or Austrobalanidae, excluding the initial assessment of Coronulidae, which would have otherwise been allusive.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 94 , Issue 6 , November 2020 , pp. 1076 - 1081
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Copyright
Copyright © 2020, The Paleontological Society

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