Taxonomy, palaeobiology and evolution of echinoids
3D model of the internal soft-tissue anatomy of a sea urchin, imaged using electro-magnetic resonance.
A number of projects are currently underway in the Palaeontology Department to improve our knowledge of key echinoderm faunas in the fossil record.
Current projects include:
- A long-term project to monograph the Cretaceous echinoids (sea urchins) of the British Isles.
- A study of the mid-Cretaceous echinoids and ophiuroids (brittle stars) of Antarctica and India.
- A study of Moroccan Jurassic and Cretaceous echinoids.
Project aims
A major goal is to establish the phylogenetic relationships and a detailed evolutionary tree of post-Palaeozoic echinoids using multiple sources of information.
We are compiling and analysing information on:
- skeletal anatomy
- soft tissue anatomy (imaged using electro-magnetic resonance techniques)
- pedicellarial anatomy
- larval anatomy
- gene sequence data