Mollusc species have become extinct from the face of the earth successfully revived. Certainly not in the true sense, but rather in the form of three-dimensional computer models.
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| The textured model in clay, resin and silicone shows how the multiplacophoran looked 390 million years ago. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/) |
The oval-shaped mollusk named Protobalanus spinicoronatus. It classified the type multiplacophoran, namely soft-bodied creatures that crawl on the sea floor with one foot sucker. Estimated age of 390 million years.
The unique from P. spinicoronatus is back arrangement covered rigid plate and the edges surrounded by thorns. Rigid plate and the circle of thorns that serve as a means of self defense from a predator attack.
"But we were not sure how the plates and spikes were prepared," said Jakob Vinther of the University of Texas, as quoted by LiveScience, Friday, September 21, 2012. Therefore, the best known fossil specimens from the multiplacophoran was damaged and decayed.
Reconstruction is done by scanning the fossil fragments of prehistoric molluscs found in Ohio, USA, 10 years ago. Hash scanning using micro-CT scan animation illustrates the shape of shelled creatures.
The picture that emerges is quite accurate, including the composition of the color and position of spines attached to the edge of the mollusk's body. "Textured model of molluscs are produced by three-dimensional printers," said Vinther.
He said the findings could help put multiplacophoran in genealogical tree of evolution. Reconstruction, published in the journal Paleontology also explain how long-extinct mollusks are related to the chiton, a similar creature that still exists today.
"We can now show that multiplacophoran are distant relatives of modern chiton," said Vinther. "They just developed a number of characteristics that are seen in some modern chiton diverse." *** [LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4006]
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