The First Finding of Epibionts on the Shells of the Ural Atrypids

The article represents data on the first findings of epibionts on the shells of atrypids Carinatina arimaspa (from the Karpin horizon, Emsian) and Karpinskia conjugula (from the Pragien) of the eastern slope of the Northern Urals. A single specimen of Palaeconchus was found on the dorsal flap of the shell of Carinatina arimaspa near the lateral comissura. Traces of drilling were found on two shells of Carinatina arimaspa and on two shells of Karpinskia conjugula near the comissura. The discovered settlers account for only about 1.5% of the total number of atrypids studied, which indicates either the extreme rarity of the epibionts themselves or the rarity of the use of the atrypid shells by epibionts. The problem of time the epibiont attached to the brachiopod shell — during its life or after its death — depends on the determination of the systematic affiliation of drilling organisms. If the drilling was done by algae, then we can assume their postmortal settlement. If the tracks belong to sponges, we should talk about their lifetime settlement.

arimaspa, , microconchids, drilling organisms, atrypids, Carinatina arimaspa, , epibiontia, Devonian, Northern Urals