Aegirocassisinae

Subfamily of hurdiid radiodonts

Aegirocassisinae is a subfamily of radiodonts from the lower Paleozoic era. It belongs to the larger hurdiidae (peytoiid) family, which were the most diverse and long lasting radiodonts. The members of this subfamily are restricted to the Lower Ordovician-aged Fezouata Formation of Morocco. Currently only two genera are included: Aegirocassis and Pseudoangustidontus. These two genera possess large Baleen-like auxiliary spines on their frontal appendages, which suggests a suspension feeding lifestyle for the group. These radiodonts are some of the few known from sediments beyond the Cambrian period. This subfamily shows that following the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, which saw a rise in the plankton population in the worlds oceans, suspension feeding became more common in radiodonts then other feeding styles. It also seems that due to the evolution of new predators, like large nautiloid cephalopods, and other arthropod groups like the eurypterids, the radiodonts evolved suspension feeding lifestyles in order to minimize competition for food.

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