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Science 8 August 1980:
Vol. 209. no. 4457, pp. 653 - 657
DOI: 10.1126/science.209.4457.653
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Articles

Fossilized Viscera in Primitive Echinoderms

Bruce N. Haugh 1 and Bruce M. Bell 2

1 Assistant curator in the Department of Invertebrates, American Museum of Natural History, New York 10024
2 Associate scientist and head of Collections Management, State Science Service, New York State Museum, State Education Department, Albany 12230

Fossilized visceral organs in ancient echinoderms have anatomical features that were not inferred from the anatomy of extant relatives. The unique visceral anatomy of extinct echinoderms demonstrates the need to integrate paleontological and neontological analyses in order to fully evaluate this and other morphologically complex phyla. Comparative analysis of the visceral anatomy of extinct and extant echinoderms necessitates regrouping these animals into three new subphyla. Similar analyses for other metazoan groups could yield equally significant results.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)