Canadaspis Phyllocarid Shelled Arthropod

Description: Canadaspis was a bivalved arthropod also occurring in the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale and in the older Chengjiang Biota. As a Phyllocarid, it is one of the lesser known taxa from the Cambrian and also among the earliest animals with a hard shell casing. They had a fairly large carapace that sheltered the anterior part of the body. This structure hinged along the dorsal edge like a bivalve. Usually only the carapace is found, as is the case here. Rarely are the soft parts preserved in the Cambrian shale's of Utah. This is an extremely fine specimen, preserved as both the part and counterpart.