Soft-bodied animals in the fossil record: The role of decay in fragmentation during transport

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 1986 Soft-bodied animals in the fossil record: The role of decay in fragmentation during transport Peter A. Allison Peter A. Allison 1Department of Geology, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, England Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1986) 14 (12): 979–981. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<979:SAITFR>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Peter A. Allison; Soft-bodied animals in the fossil record: The role of decay in fragmentation during transport. Geology 1986;; 14 (12): 979–981. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<979:SAITFR>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Freshly killed, soft-bodied, and lightly skeletized animals display considerable resistance to skeletal damage during transport under experimental conditions. This resistance diminishes as decay advances. In addition, a high degree of decay-induced disarticulation may occur with minimal transport when carcasses are buoyed up from the sediment-water interface by decay gases. Decay, rather than nature or duration of transport, determines the completeness of fossil soft-bodied and poorly mineralized animals. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.