Objective

To analyze anomalies of a biomineralized exoskeleton of a trilobite.

Materials

A specimen of Dalmanitina socialis from the Upper Ordovician Letná Formation at Veselá near Beroun, Czechoslovakia, curated at the Czech Geological Survey in Prague.

Methods

The internal mold and external mold and latex casts were coated with ammonium chloride sublimate and photographed.

Results

A substantial reduction of the eye surface associated with changes in morphology and surface structure was noted.

Conclusions

The anomaly is believed to be the result of a healed injury after an unsuccessful predatory attack. Based on the presumed mechanism of injury, a ‘large arthropod’ is proposed to be the potential attacker.

Significance

The low incidence of sublethal attack to cephala in collections of Cambrian to Carboniferous trilobites implies that most such attacks were fatal, rendering this specimen unique and capable of providing insight into healing processes.

Limitations

Post-mortem damage rendered analysis difficult.

Suggestionsfor further research

Exploration of other cases of healed trauma in order to understand Ordovician ecosystems.

中文翻译：

---

Dalmanitina socialis（Trilobita）的外骨骼和眼睛修复：奥陶纪胚芽再生的一个例子？

客观的

分析三叶虫生物矿化外骨骼的异常。

材料

来自捷克斯洛伐克 Beroun 附近 Veselá 的上奥陶统 Letná 组的Dalmanitina socialis标本，由布拉格的捷克地质调查局策划。

方法

内模和外模和乳胶铸件涂上氯化铵升华并拍照。

结果

注意到与形态和表面结构的变化相关的眼睛表面的显着减少。

结论

该异常被认为是在一次不成功的掠夺性攻击后伤口愈合的结果。根据推测的损伤机制，“大型节肢动物”被认为是潜在的攻击者。

意义

在寒武纪到石炭纪三叶虫的集合中，对头颅的亚致死攻击发生率很低，这意味着大多数此类攻击都是致命的，这使得这个标本独一无二，能够提供对愈合过程的洞察。

限制

死后损坏使分析变得困难。

进一步研究的建议

探索其他创伤愈合案例以了解奥陶纪生态系统。