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Brain and eyes of Kerygmachela reveal protocerebral ancestry of the panarthropod head

Author

Listed:
  • Tae-Yoon S. Park

    (Division of Polar Earth-System Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute)

  • Ji-Hoon Kihm

    (Division of Polar Earth-System Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute
    University of Science and Technology)

  • Jusun Woo

    (Division of Polar Earth-System Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute)

  • Changkun Park

    (Division of Polar Earth-System Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute)

  • Won Young Lee

    (Division of Polar Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute)

  • M. Paul Smith

    (Oxford University Museum of Natural History)

  • David A. T. Harper

    (Durham University)

  • Fletcher Young

    (University of Bristol)

  • Arne T. Nielsen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Jakob Vinther

    (University of Bristol)

Abstract

Recent discoveries of fossil nervous tissue in Cambrian fossils have allowed researchers to trace the origin and evolution of the complex arthropod head and brain based on stem groups close to the origin of the clade, rather than on extant, highly derived members. Here we show that Kerygmachela from Sirius Passet, North Greenland, a primitive stem-group euarthropod, exhibits a diminutive (protocerebral) brain that innervates both the eyes and frontal appendages. It has been surmised, based on developmental evidence, that the ancestor of vertebrates and arthropods had a tripartite brain, which is refuted by the fossil evidence presented here. Furthermore, based on the discovery of eyes in Kerygmachela, we suggest that the complex compound eyes in arthropods evolved from simple ocelli, present in onychophorans and tardigrades, rather than through the incorporation of a set of modified limbs.

Suggested Citation

  • Tae-Yoon S. Park & Ji-Hoon Kihm & Jusun Woo & Changkun Park & Won Young Lee & M. Paul Smith & David A. T. Harper & Fletcher Young & Arne T. Nielsen & Jakob Vinther, 2018. "Brain and eyes of Kerygmachela reveal protocerebral ancestry of the panarthropod head," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03464-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03464-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen Pates & Joseph P. Botting & Lucy A. Muir & Joanna M. Wolfe, 2022. "Ordovician opabiniid-like animals and the role of the proboscis in euarthropod head evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.

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