HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by DATTILO, B. F. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Reply

¹ Division of Science and Mathematics, Alice Lloyde College, Pippa Passes, KY, 41844; bendattilo@alc.edu

The first 300 words of the full text of this article appear below.

When Dattilo (2004) described the trace fossils associated with eighteen vertically oriented and two convex-up specimens of Sowerbyella rugosa found on a single bed, he concentrated on the description and interpretation of the trace-fossil evidence. It was clear that these brachiopods had rotated through the sediments from a convex-up position to a commissure-up position. Dattilo (2004) proposed valve flapping as a potential mechanism by which Sowerbyella accomplished this re-orientation. He also argued that the ability to reorient themselves might have been shared by the concavo-convex strophomenides, and that this ability was not explained by the prevailing biomechanical models of strophomenide life habit.

As Leighton points out, Dattilo (2004) did not discuss the valve-flapping mechanism in detail, nor did he conduct a biomechanical analysis to explain how it might have worked. For this reason Leighton's attention to this find is most welcome. His comments and skilled analysis could contribute to understanding of these enigmatic specimens.

It is particularly gratifying to read Leighton's discussion of Lescinsky's (1995) epibiont evidence for a convex-up life position and his review of trace-fossil evidence in general. Leighton addresses valid concerns about the interpretation of epibiont data, laying groundwork for further investigation.

However, Leighton also argues undisputed assertions at great length. Specifically, much space is spent arguing that Sowerbyella could not burrow or use pedicle locomotion like linguliform brachiopods, that it could not swim or scoot along the surface like pectin bivalves, and that its probable wide gape would preclude it from living in a burrow. Finally, Leighton states that no evidence of behavior could falsify a well-constructed biomechanical model that constrains that behavior. So perhaps there is no point in going any further with this reply, but a challenge is a challenge. A certain amount of risk-taking is warranted.

First, in light of the relatively modest . . . [Full Text of this Article]