Selkirkia
willoughbyi
Phylum Priapulida
Geological
Time: Upper Middle Cambrian
Size: 45
mm
Fossil
Site: Marjum Formation, House Range, Millard County, Utah
Description:
This specimen shows a priapulid of the genus Slekirkia which is
undoubtedly the best-preserved I have come across in some time.
Notice evidence of both the gut trace and the everted proboscis.
The priapulids
are a group of non-segmented worms whose modern-day examples can
reach 30 cm in length, and live in both shallow and deep marine
sands as carnivores. The terminal mouth bears cone-shaped projections
called scalids by which the worm would snare its prey. Their tube
presumably was held nearly vertically in the substrate with just
the tip protruding into the water column.
Related: Konservat
Lagerstatte Biota from Utah
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