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Dryad

Data from: Rautangaroa, a new genus of feather star (Echinodermata: Crinoidea) from the Oligocene of New Zealand

Cite this dataset

Baumiller, Tomasz K.; Fordyce, R. Ewan (2018). Data from: Rautangaroa, a new genus of feather star (Echinodermata: Crinoidea) from the Oligocene of New Zealand [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.58j041n

Abstract

We describe a nearly complete, and thus extremely rare, featherstar (Crinoidea, Comatulida) from Oligocene strata of North Otago/South Canterbury, New Zealand. A detailed analysis of this specimen, as well as newly recovered material and previously described fragmentary remains from nearby contemporaneous sedimentary units, in addition to relevant historical specimens, lead us to conclude that it cannot be placed in any currently established genus. A new genus, Rautangaroa, is proposed to accommodate it. This intact specimen of Rautangaroa aotearoa (Eagle, 2007), new combination, provides rare data on the morphology of arms and cirri. It represents the first example of arm autotomy and regeneration in a fossil featherstar, and thus has bearing on the importance of predation to the evolutionary history of this group.

Usage notes

Location

New Zealand