A group of researchers has reached the conclusion that the marine arthropod Walliserops trifurcatus used the characteristic trident on its head to fight with other males, in order to gain the opportunity to mate with females, as detailed in a study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) magazine.
This ancient trilobite lived at the bottom of the ocean about 400 million years ago, so, according to the authors of the research, it would be the oldest evidence of a fight by sexual selection in the animal world.
Strange marine creature would have used the trident on its head to compete for females 400 million years ago
This is the oldest evidence of combat by sexual selection in the animal world, according to scientists. /ju https://t.co/GB8XtH3wXI
– DW Spanish (@dw_espanol) January 19, 2023
“The extraordinary trilobite from the Devonian walliserops on his head was a unique giant trident, the purpose of which has long been a mysteryexplained paleontologist Richard Fortey of the UK Natural History Museum.
“We now believe that it was used for duels between males fighting for dominance. The evolution of competition for sexual reasons in animals is hundreds of millions of years older than we thought,” she added.
A copy changed the perspective
Previously, it was believed that this sea creature used its tridents to search for food, defend itself or dig a hide. But the specimen in excellent condition exhibited at the Museum of Natural History in Houston (USA) has a genetic deformation in its trident that caught the attention of paleontologists.
It turns out that this W. trifurcatus it had an unusual fourth prong on its traditional trident, with no trace of injury. As the fossil remains of this marine animal correspond to those of an adult, the authors suggest that this deformity did not have a significant impact on its chances of survival, so they assume that it was used for combat.
Comparison with the animal kingdom
Whether these animals fought for the right to mate with females cannot be fully ascertained. Other animals such as deer, which after fighting can lose part of their horns, can also survive to adulthood.
Scientists believe rhinoceros beetles are a good example, as this species also uses its large horn for dueling between males, attempting to overturn rivals during mating season.
“The projection of the trident of walliserops it best fits the morphology of a weapon used as a shovel,” the experts wrote.
Differences with females
Likewise, the researchers estimate that this trilobite had sexual dimorphism, that is, the males differed from the females in appearance. So far no female specimens of the W. trifurcatus, although it is likely that they had a smaller trident, or none at all.
“Walliserops provides the oldest example of combat behavior in the fossil record, most likely ritualized in competition for mates,” they added.
“Although fossil life habits are difficult to prove, the consistency of morphology, teratology, and biometric data all point to the same interpretation, making it one of the strongest examples of paleoecological speculation,” they concluded.
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