The Vertebrate Exoskeleton: Geometric Patterns of the Armor Relief Formation in Early Jawless Vertebrates (Agnatha, Vertebrata)

Abstract

Analysis of data on the hard cover structure in various osteostracan taxa (Osteostraci, Agnatha) allowed us to describe geometric patterns of the armor relief formation during morphogenesis of the Vertebrate external skeleton. A circular model of the formation of exoskeletal surface relief has been proposed. A mechanism providing a complete set of the exoskeleton sculpture types was shown to exist already since early Vertebrates.