Posted on 05/26/2005 5:47:35 PM PDT by missyme
HORNY male trilobites may have been fighting it out over the females hundreds of millions of years ago, making them the earliest combatants known to take part in such sexual contests.
Rob Knell, a biologist at Queen Mary University of London and Richard Fortey of London's Natural History Museum noticed that some of the trilobites in the museum's collection had horns on their heads similar to those of modern beetles. Male beetles use their horns to battle each other for supremacy, with the winner getting the opportunity to mate. Knell and Fortey wondered if the trilobites used their horns for the same purpose.
There were other possible explanations: that the horns had a protective function; that they helped reduce turbulence while swimming; that they were sensory feelers; or that they helped camouflage the animal. But none fitted with the shape and position of the horns (Biology Letters, DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2005.0304). "The most likely function was in combat between male beetles over access to females," Knell concludes.
The study centred on a trilobite family called the raphiophorids, which lived in the Ordovician, 488 to 444 million years ago. But the researchers say their conclusions also apply to the headgear of other trilobites, such as the magnificent trident borne by Walliserops trifurcates (above) from the Devonian, 417 to 354 million years ago
You would not have a garden to worry about if they were there...just bring an axe if a two-foot trilobite ever shows up. And make your first swing count!
Well they are all over the place, so I guess they like to "reproduce"!
LOL. And have yer best running shoes on!
They are..I have not seen a Potato Bug in 15 years....
I would say Ants are the ones out of control...No Discipline! :)
not pissants though, right?
...and I don't even want to THINK about the possibilty if it were a horny trilobite that took a shine to you...HA! (Can they jump??)
LOL. I'll have to send the Orkin man in. I'm not going close enough to find out!
HAHA..NOw I was not implying to pissants, more the red ones! pissants have discipline...(I think :)
Mebbe send in the Orkin WOMAN...
Pissants deliver discipline!
I think Missyme is an exterminator!
LOL..
More like the Oueen Bee!
Always your decision. I report, you decide. Some folks are really into trilobites...
A Sense of Humor will give you better health and a Zest for living....:)
You should give serious consideration to writing inserts for fortune cookies.
Well who are the drones that have to take care of you constantly?
I agree with you! I would dig that!
You all do a fine job round here!
You just reminded me of the song "Killer Queen". :-)
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