Bitten spines reveal unique evidence for fish predation on Middle Jurassic echinoids

Eating echinoid spines: further thoughts on Wilson et al . (2015)

“…, p. 207); that is, if a Rhabdocidaris spine was broken or bitten (Wilson et al . ; fig. 1), it could not be repaired because the epidermis did not extend over the spines.…”

“…We welcome the recent contribution of Wilson et al . () as a thought‐provoking contribution to the growing body of evidence for predation on echinoderms in the fossil record. Wilson et al .…”

“…Wilson et al . () p. 5, stated, ‘Echinoderms have strong capabilities for regeneration … so it is most likely that the spines were either torn from the tests or that the attacks on the echinoids were lethal. The second scenario seems to be more plausible as we found no pathological spines … that could indicate they originated from re‐growth’.…”

“…We welcome the recent contribution of Wilson et al (2015) as a thought-provoking contribution to the growing body of evidence for predation on echinoderms in the fossil record. Wilson et al described and illustrated a suite of robust spines (or radioles) of Middle Jurassic Rhabdocidaris which show undoubted marks of the eager attentions of predatory fishes.…”

“…We have no disagreement with the conclusions of Wilson et al, but do suggest that their data are open to alternative inferences which trend in a different direction from their own conclusions. Wilson et al (2015) p. 5, stated, 'Echinoderms have strong capabilities for regeneration . .…”