Tuzoia sinensis, A Decorated Phyllocarid Fossil from Chengjiang Biota

Tuzoia sinensis

Phylum Arthropoda, Subphylum Crustacea, Class Malacostraca, Subclass Phyllocarida

Geological Time: Early Cambrian (~525 million years ago)

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 65 mm long by 50 mm across on a 90 mm by 68 mm matrix

Fossil Site: Guanshan Fauna, Lowermost part of Wulongqing Formation, Caijiachong Valley, Yieyatoung, Gangtoucun Village, Xiamacun Town, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China - Near and similar to the Chengjiang Biota

Code: CJF1071

Price: $325.00

Tuzoia sinensis ChengjiangDescription: This unusual fossil is an example of a rarely-seen Phyllocarid known as Tuzoia sinensis. It is a bivalved crustacean, most well known for its distinctively-reticulated carapace. This fossil comes from what has been termed the “Guanshan Fauna”, found in the Wulongqing Formation. The Guanshan Fauna shares many genera with the slightly older Chengjiang Biota, but often differs at the species level. The genus is known from the Burgess Shale and from Early/Middle Cambrian deposits of Utah. Those are largely distinguished by the presence and placement of spines on the carapace. Few examples of the genus are known from more than the carapace, as seen here. Note the intricate polygonal decoration to the carapace.

Also see: Chengjiang Biota Fauna List Chengjiang Fossils

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