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The Ostracods (Ostracoda, Crustacea) as a Model Object for the Studying of the Evolution of Sexual Dimorphism

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Abstract—

The ostracods are an ideal object for studies of microevolutionary process, in particular, the evolution of sexual dimorphism, since they have a long and continuous fossil record, clearly expressed morphological traits, the presence of sexual dimorphism, and numerous and clearly distinguished age stages. The paper reviews previous reports on the evolution of sexual dimorphism in ostracods and reports new data on this phenomenon. For some ostracods, males have been shown to be the first to be involved in evolutionary process from the Miocene to the present. The carapace hinge of the males differs from that in females due to pedomorphic reorganizations. This phenomenon has been identified for the first time in the Mesozoic (Late Callovian) species Lophocythere acrolophos (Mikhailovtsement section, Ryazan oblast), the juvenile features of which continue to retain in the hinge of male carapaces.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to L.M. Mel’nikova (Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences) and A.Yu. Zhuravlev (Moscow State University) for their participation in the discussion of the results, helpful remarks, and comprehensive support.

Funding

This work was carried out as a part of topic of the state assignments АААА-А16-116021660031-5 and АААА-А16-116033010096-8 (Moscow State University), 0135-2018-0036 (Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences) and was partially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 18-05-00501.

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  1. Department of Biological Evolution, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Russia

    Y. A. Shurupova

  2. Department of Regional Geology and Earth History, Geological Faculty, Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Russia

    E. M. Tesakova

  3. Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    E. M. Tesakova

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  1. Y. A. Shurupova
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Shurupova, Y.A., Tesakova, E.M. The Ostracods (Ostracoda, Crustacea) as a Model Object for the Studying of the Evolution of Sexual Dimorphism. Biol Bull Rev 11, 226–236 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S2079086421030105

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