What was the potential function of the long, rigid spines projecting from Wiwaxia?
Answer
Defensive function against predators
Emerging laterally between the sclerite plates were paired arrays of long, rigid spines. Paleontological interpretation assigns these prominent features a defensive role. In an era characterized by rapid evolutionary experimentation and increasing predation pressure—the Cambrian Explosion—defensive structures like sharp spines would have been a significant survival advantage for a slow-moving invertebrate. Their preservation in sharp relief suggests they were substantial, rigid structures integral to the animal's interaction with its environment, specifically concerning protection from other organisms.
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