Dala_(crustacean)
Dala (crustacean)
Extinct genus of crustacean
Dala peilertae is an extinct genus of pancrustacean from the Cambrian Orsten.
| Dala | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Genus: | †Dala Müller, 1983 |
| Species: | †D. peilertae |
| Binomial name | |
| †Dala peilertae Müller, 1983 | |
Dala is estimated to be around 2 millimetres long extrapolating from partial specimens, with no preserved head in the holotype and only a fragmentary one in the paratype. It has eight pairs of thoracic appendages forming a filter apparatus, four pairs of cephalic appendages, a large labrum and five ring-shaped abdominal segments, alongside a long furca on the posteriormost segment. Two different size groups of Dala have been identified, although no currently known larvae have been found. A relationship to Cephalocarida was briefly suggested, but Dala is currently labelled as Pancrustacea incertae sedis.[1][2]
Dala is named for the parish of Dala 2 km west-northwest of the discovery site. Its specific name peilertae honours Mrs. Christa Peilert "on the occasion of her retirement after 14 years (1966 03 15-1980 07 31) as a technical assistant in the Bonn department".[1]
Dala is known from over 60 fragmentary specimens, seemingly due to the whole organism being too large for complete preservation, all from Västergötland in between the parishes of Stenstorp and the genus's namesake of Dala.[1]
- Müller, Klaus J. (1983). "Crustacea with preserved soft parts from the Upper Cambrian of Sweden". Lethaia. 16 (2): 93–109. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1983.tb01704.x.
- Koenemann, Stefan; Jenner, Ronald (27 April 2005). Crustacea and Arthropod Relationships. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4200-3754-8.
 | This article needs additional or more specific categories. (March 2024) |
