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<p>During the end-Permian mass extinction, at least 90% of marine species were eliminated as global warming and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide caused increased ocean temperatures, acidification, and anoxia. The subsequent Early Triassic interval was characterized by opportunistic taxa, abundant microbialites, and delayed ecosystem recovery. Recent studies report Lower Triassic fossils preserved in unusual ways, including molded by apatite and iron-bearing minerals. This work examines the ophiuroid diversity and taphonomy at three localities of the Virgin Limestone Member: Lost Cabin Springs, Blue Diamond, and Muddy Mountains Overton. Ophiuroid lateral arm plates and arm vertebrae belonging to <i>Ophiosuperstes praeparvus</i> were collected from each locality. The taphonomy of the <i>O. praeparvus</i> specimens varies across localities: at the more offshore section of the Virgin Limestone at Lost Cabin Springs, specimens are primarily apatitic stereomic molds. Specimens from the Virgin Limestone at Blue Diamond are mostly silica stereomic molds with a few apatite examples and specimens from the Muddy Mountains Overton locality are all silica molds. These taphonomic differences may indicate environmental controls on preservation styles including specimen size, pore-water oxygen level, and/or sedimentation rate. Since <i>O. praeparvus</i> was the only ophiuroid found at these localities, we suggest that this species was tolerant of post-extinction conditions across the Panthalassa shelf. The warm, low-oxygen Triassic ocean likely contributed to the expansion of stress-tolerant generalists while fostering unusual taphonomic modes during early diagenesis.</p>

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The tiny survivors: diversity and preservation of Early Triassic ophiuroids of the Virgin Limestone of the Moenkopi Formation, Southern Nevada, United States

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月27日

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  • Natalie E. Morgan,
  • Ben Thuy,
  • Sara B. Pruss

摘要

During the end-Permian mass extinction, at least 90% of marine species were eliminated as global warming and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide caused increased ocean temperatures, acidification, and anoxia. The subsequent Early Triassic interval was characterized by opportunistic taxa, abundant microbialites, and delayed ecosystem recovery. Recent studies report Lower Triassic fossils preserved in unusual ways, including molded by apatite and iron-bearing minerals. This work examines the ophiuroid diversity and taphonomy at three localities of the Virgin Limestone Member: Lost Cabin Springs, Blue Diamond, and Muddy Mountains Overton. Ophiuroid lateral arm plates and arm vertebrae belonging to Ophiosuperstes praeparvus were collected from each locality. The taphonomy of the O. praeparvus specimens varies across localities: at the more offshore section of the Virgin Limestone at Lost Cabin Springs, specimens are primarily apatitic stereomic molds. Specimens from the Virgin Limestone at Blue Diamond are mostly silica stereomic molds with a few apatite examples and specimens from the Muddy Mountains Overton locality are all silica molds. These taphonomic differences may indicate environmental controls on preservation styles including specimen size, pore-water oxygen level, and/or sedimentation rate. Since O. praeparvus was the only ophiuroid found at these localities, we suggest that this species was tolerant of post-extinction conditions across the Panthalassa shelf. The warm, low-oxygen Triassic ocean likely contributed to the expansion of stress-tolerant generalists while fostering unusual taphonomic modes during early diagenesis.