Myriapod divergence times differ between molecular clock and fossil evidence: U/Pb zircon ages of the earliest fossil millipede-bearing sediments and their significance

ABSTRACT

Molecular clock calculations suggest a late Cambrian (~ 500 Ma) divergence of myriapod classes. Yet, the earliest myriapods only appear in the latest Silurian (~425 Ma). 75 million years later; though correlation with the standard marine-based geological time scale is difficult. We radiometrically dated (U/Pb method) zircons in sediments at 3 sites in the UK associated with the supposed earliest millipedes. Kerrera, with only extinct kampecarid myriapods from temporary playa lake deposits in a semi-arid intermontane basin is 425 Ma old. Ludlow, with kampecarid myriapods and the first trigonotarbid arachnids (with book lungs), from transported material in ripple troughs at the base of a semi-arid delta complex, is 420 Ma. Cowie, with the supposed earliest air-breathing millipede (with spiracles), from a temporary playa lake in an intermontane basin complex, is 414 Ma old. The more diverse land arthropod fauna of the Rhynie Chert hot spring deposit, also in an intermontane basin, is 407 Ma old. A rapid radiative evolution from simple intermontane lake margin communities through more evolved lowland communities took only about 20 Ma to reach complex forest grade communities by the Middle Devonian Givetian (about 385 million years).

KEYWORDS:

• Millipedes
• fossil
• age
• molecular
• conflict

Acknowledgments

Support for obtaining the geochemical data in this paper was provided by funds to E Catlos provided by the Jackson School of Geosciences and Faculty Innovation Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Age data were collected by E.Catlos from Ludlow and Kerrera using the CAMECA ims1290 at UCLA. The UCLA facility recognizes support from the U.S. National Science Foundation. S. Suarez collected age data using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry at UT Austin. We thank two referees for helping us make the paper clearer.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.