Miraluolishania Newly-Described Chengjiang Lobopodian

Description: The discovery of the Chengjiang Biota by Hou Xian-guang in 1984 resulted in a clear window on what is known as the Cambrian Explosion. The diversity of soft-tissue fossils is astonishing: algae, medusiforms, sponges, priapulids, annelid-like worms, echinoderms, arthropods (including trilobites), hemichordates, chordates, and the first agnathan fish make up just a small fraction of the total. Numerous problematic forms are known as well, some of which may have represented failed attempts at diversity that did not persist to the present day.

The Lobopodians are small marine and terrestrial animals termed colloquially “velvet worms” or “worms with legs”. While all Recent forms are terrestrial, most fossil Lobopodians are marine, and are known primarily from the Cambrian. Six named genera, each with a single species, were known from the Chengjiang Biota, making it the richest source of fossils of the type on Earth. In 2004, a new genus was erected: Miraluolishania, The name shows its close affinity with Luolishania, but there are several differences: 1. Miraluolishania displays distinct eyes and antennae (the eyes are visible at the lower bottom of the closeup) 2. Miraluolishania possesses fewer body segments (14 as here) 3. Miraluolishania possesses paired dorsal spines, as seen ehre. Two additional differences not readily seen here are hairy setae and a single claw on the legs of Miraluolishania. All-in-all this is a highly desirable specimen which would be a cornerstone addition to any collection, public or private..

Also see: Chengjiang Biota Fauna List Chengjiang Fossils