The enigmatic arthropod Camptophyllia

Abstract

The enigmatic Upper Carboniferous arthropod genus Camptophyllia is known from 11 fossils, found at five Coal Measures Lagersttten. These siderite-hosted fossils reveal only the organism's dorsal surface -its ventral and appendage morphology is entirely unknown, hampering efforts to place the genus taxonomically or phylogenetically. This study reports the application of high-resolution X-ray micro-tomography (XMT) to six Camptophyllia specimens, from four Carboniferous Lagersttten. This XMT-based restudy has provided new morphological detail, confirming the anteriormost segment is cephalic and facilitating more informed speculation regarding the organism's mode of life. However, despite scanning all but one of the known representatives of the genus, ventral anatomy has not been resolved; it is possible this is taphonomic, resulting from a poorly sclerotized ventral region. Pending the discovery of further material, the affinities of Camptophyllia remain unclear.