Research interests
- Cambrian molluscs (especially helcionelloids) and Small Shelly Fossils
- Lower Palaeozoic gastropods and monoplacophoran molluscs
- Sirius Passet Lagerstätte (Lower Cambrian) of Greenland
- Lower Palaeozoic (especially Cambrian) palaeontology and stratigraphy of Greenland
 |
Photo: Eotebenna arctica, Henson Gletscher Fm. (Lower Cambrian), North Greenland
|
Recent
publications
Conway Morris, S. & Peel, J. S. 2008: The earliest annelids: Lower Cambrian polychaetes from the Sirius Passet Lagerstätte, Peary Land, North Greenland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53, 137-148.
Abstract: Apart
from the Phyllopod Bed of the Burgess Shale (Middle Cambrian)
polychaete annelids are practically unknown from any of the Cambrian
Lagerstätten. This is surprising both because their diversity in
the Burgess Shale is considerable, while to date the Chengjiang
Lagerstätte which is equally impressive in terms of faunal
diversity has no reliable records of any annelids. Here we describe, on
the basis of about 40 specimens, Phragmochaeta canicularis new genus,
new species from the Lower Cambrian Sirius Passet Lagerstätte of
Peary Land, North Greenland. This makes it by far the oldest known
polychaete, with a likely age of lower to middle Atdabanian, The body
consists of approximately 20 segments, each bearing notochaetae and
neurochaetae. The former appeared to have formed a felt-like covering
on the dorsum, whilst the neurochaetae projected obliquely to the
longitudinal axis. Apart from minor differences in chaetal size at
either end there is no other tagmosis. Details of the head are obscure,
and presence of palps, tentacles and eyes are conjectural. Jaws
appear to have been absent. The gut was straight, and flanked by
massive longitudinal musculature. P. canicularis was evidently benthic,
propelling itself on the neurochaetae, with the dorsal neurochaetae
conferring protection. Its stratigraphic position and generalized
appearance are consistent with P. canicularis being primitive, but the
phylogenetic relationships within the polychaetes remain problematic,
principally because of paucity of relevant morphological information.
Atkins, C.J. & Peel, J.S. 2008: Yochelcionella (Mollusca, Helcionelloida) from the lower Cambrian of North America. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(1), 23-38.
Stein, M. & Peel, J.S. 2008: The trilobite Perrisopyge from the Lower Cambrian of Laurentia. GFF 130(2), 71-78.
Babcock, L.E. & Peel, J.S. 2007:
Palaeobiology, taphonomy and stratigraphic significance of the
trilobite Buenellus from the Sirius Passet Biota, Cambrian of North
Greenland. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists 34, 331-348.
Isakar, M. & Peel, J.S. 2007: Lower Cambrian helcionelloid molluscs from Estonia. GFF 129, 255-262.
Peel, J.S. & Berg-Madsen, V. 2007: Eobucania (Mollusca) from the Furongian (late Cambrian) of Sweden. GFF 129, 235-237.
Skovsted, C.B. & Peel, J.S. 2007: Small shelly fossils from the argillaceous facies of the Lower Cambrian Forteau Formation of western Newfoundland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 52, 729-748.
Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A., Lindström, A., Peel, J.S., Paterson, J.R. & Fuller, M.F. 2007: Early Cambrian record of failed durophagy and shell repair in an epibenthic mollusc. Biology letters (2007) 3, 314-317.
Current Ph.D projects
Christian J. Atkins: Lower Cambrian Small Shelly Fossils (especially molluscs) from North Greenland
Martin Stein: Cambrian arthropods from Greenland, including the Sirius Passet biota
Complete list of publications
|
