Integument. . . extant vx extinct

[Michael Skrepnick <palaeopaint@dinosaursinart.com>]

Have a look at this bizarre little beauty. . .

http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2006/03/08/crustacean-fur060308.html

Seeing is of course believing and in the case of fossil specimens at least 
half way to believing ( depending upon the source of academic 
interpretation ).  The point. . . if a creature like this were unknown to 
science ( as this one was until just recently ), but instead an ancient 
counterpart were discovered in a fine grain sediment in which detail was 
nicely preserved, how difficult would it be for the scientific community to 
accept such an anomaly with unexpected hirsute covering?  Some might 
interpret or discount the evidence within the slab as an occurance of 
dendrites, collagen, etc. . . but who would willingly accept or expect a 
creature of the deep to be shrouded as is the "Yeti crab". Do discoveries 
like these make it easier when considering ( cladistics aside for the 
moment ) phenomena like proto-feathers on dinosaurs? While the overwhelming 
majority vertebrate paleontologists have readily embraced the shift in 
thinking to feathered theropods, it seems hard to believe there is still a 
vocal minority within the scientific community who stand in opposition of 
the weight of evidence, especially in light of examples of evolutionary 
diversity that populate our planet today. . . like"hairy crabs" ( who would 
have thunk it? )

Mike S.