Dr. Thomas Hegna of the Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences had a new paper published in the journal, Papers in Palaeontology.
The paper re-describes a fossil species of branchiopod crustacean from the Triassic of France (first documented in the mid-1800s). Dr. Hegna noted It has long been thought to be a member of the living species, Triops cancriformis (making it the oldest still-living species). However, careful re-examination of the fossils showed that it had a number of significant differences from the modern species. He added that the status as a 'living fossil' only works if you do not look at the fossils too closely.
The paper also describes two new genera and species of branchiopod crustaceans. Hegna noted these fossils help to understand the distinctive body plan of branchiopod crustaceans originated.
The work began as part of Hegna's Ph.D. thesis during a research trip to Strasbourg, France, to see the fossils. Geyer and Kelber began independently working on the same fossils, and later, all three joined forces to publish the paper on them, which can be found here.
