marketrent OP t1_j5hin5c wrote
Reply to comment by hazpat in Trilobite tridents could be the oldest evidence of male sexual combat — Fighting for mates may be a behaviour that dates back over 400 million years by marketrent
>hazpat
>The entire hypothesis is based around an individual with 4 spikes making it to adulthood.... since the malformed trident didnt impede survival it must be used in combat? at first glance, these look like they would also work great at disturbing mud in front of themselves while foraging...
From the linked summary^1 released by U.K.’s Natural History Museum:
>This suggests that a role in feeding or digging is unlikely, because the changes the fourth tine causes to the overall shape of the trident would have made it more difficult to use for these purposes, limiting the individual's chance of survival.
^1 Unique trilobite trident could be the oldest evidence of male sexual combat, Ashworth J., 16 Jan. 2023.
hazpat t1_j5jvg38 wrote
That paragraph is based on looking at the trident. Same as my opinion. The quad trident looks like it would work just as fine to stir sediment. Visually nothing indicates it would be less effective than 3 for sifting or fighting
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