The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China: The Flowering of Early Animal Life

The celebrated lower Cambrian Chengjiang biota of Yunnan Province, China, represents one of the most significant ever paleontological discoveries. Deposits of ancient mudstone, about 520 million years old, have yielded a spectacular variety of exquisitely preserved fossils that record the early diversification of animal life. Since the discovery of the first specimens in 1984, many thousands of fossils have been collected, exceptionally preserving not just the shells and carapaces of the animals, but also their soft tissues in fine detail. This special preservation has produced fossils of rare beauty; they are also of outstanding scientific importance as sources of evidence about the origins of animal groups that have sustained global biodiversity to the present day.

Much of the scientific documentation of the Chengjiang biota is in Chinese, and the first edition of this book was the first in English to provide fossil enthusiasts with a comprehensive overview of the fauna. The second edition has been fully updated and includes a new chapter on other exceptionally preserved fossils of Cambrian age, exciting new fossil finds from Chengjiang, and a phylogenetic framework for the biota. Displaying some 250 figures of marvelous specimens, this book presents to professional and amateur paleontologists, and all those fascinated by evolutionary biology, the aesthetic and scientific quality of the Chengjiang fossils.

Foreword

Preface

Part One Geological and Evolutionary Setting of the Biota

1 Geological time and the evolution of early life on Earth

2 The evolutionary significance of the Chengjiang biota

3 The discovery and study of the Chengjiang Lagerstätte

4 The distribution and geological setting of the Chengjiang Lagerstätte

5 The taphonomy and preservation of the Chengjiang fossils

6 The paleoecology of the Chengjiang biota

7 Cambrian Lagerstätten

Part Two Chengjiang Fossils

8 Algae

Fuxianospira gyrata Chen & Zhou, 1997

Megaspirellus houi Chen & Erdtmann, 1991

Sinocylindra yunnanensis Chen & Erdtmann, 1991

Yuknessia sp. of Chen & Erdtmann, 1991

9 Ctenophora

Galeactena hemispherica Ou et al., 2015

Maotianoascus octonarius Chen & Zhou, 1997

Batofasciculus ramificans Hou et al., 1999

Yunnanoascus haikouensis Hu et al., 2007

10 Porifera

Paradiagoniella xiaolantianensis Chen et al., 2014

Triticispongia diagonata Mehl & Reitner, 1993

Saetaspongia densa Mehl & Reitner, 1993

Leptomitus teretiusculus Chen et al., 1989

Choiaella radiata Rigby & Hou, 1995

Choia xiaolantianensis Hou et al., 1999

Allantospongia mica Rigby & Hou, 1995

Leptomitella conica Chen et al., 1989

Paraleptomitella dictyodroma Chen et al., 1989

Paraleptomitella globula Chen et al., 1989

Quadrolaminiella diagonalis Chen et al., 1990

11 Cnidaria

Archisaccophyllia kunmingensis Hou et al., 2005

Xianguangia sinica Chen & Erdtmann, 1991

12 Entoprocta

Cotyledion tylodes Luo & Hu, 1999

13 Phoronida

Iotuba chengjiangensis Chen & Zhou, 1997

14 Brachiopoda

Yuganotheca elegans Zhang et al., 2014

Heliomedusa orienta Sun & Hou, 1987

Longtancunella chengjiangensis Hou et al., 1999

Diandongia pista Rong, 1974

Lingulellotreta malongensis (Rong, 1974)

Lingulella chengjiangensis Jin et al., 1993

15 Annelida

Cambrosipunculus tentaculatus Huang et al., 2004

Maotianchaeta fuxianella Chen, 2004

16 Trochozoa of uncertain affinity

Ambrolinevitus maximus Jiang, 1982

Ambrolinevitus ventricosus Qian, 1978

Burithes yunnanensis Hou et al., 1999

Linevitus opimus Yu, 1974

Nectocaris pteryx Conway Morris, 1976

Wiwaxia papilio Zhang et al., 2015

17 Priapulida and relatives

Mafangscolex sinensis (Hou & Sun, 1988)

Maotianshania cylindrica Sun & Hou, 1987

Cricocosmia jinningensis Hou & Sun, 1988

Paraselkirkia sinica (Luo & Hou, 1999)

Corynetis brevis Luo & Hu in Luo et al., 1999

Sicyophorus rarus Luo & Hu, 1999

Palaeopriapulites parvus Hou et al., 1999

Eximipriapulus globocaudatus Ma et al., 2014

Xiaoheiqingella peculiaris Hu, 2002

Omnidens amplus Hou et al., 2006

Acosmia maotiania Chen & Zhou, 1997

Archotuba elongata (Luo & Hou, 1999)

18 Lobopodians

Paucipodia inermis Chen et al., 1995

Diania cactiformis Liu et al., 2011

Microdictyon sinicum Chen et al., 1989

Onychodictyon ferox Hou et al., 1991

Cardiodictyon catenulum Hou et al., 1991

Hallucigenia fortis Hou & Bergström, 1995

Luolishania longicruris Hou & Chen, 1989

Antennacanthopodia gracilis Ou & Shu, 2011

19 Anomalocaridids

Anomalocaris saron Hou et al., 1995

Amplectobelua symbrachiata Hou et al., 1995

Lyrarapax unguispinus Cong et al., 2014

Cucumericrus decoratus Hou et al., 1995

20 Euarthropoda

Isoxys auritus (Jiang, 1982)

Isoxys paradoxus Hou, 1987

Pectocaris spatiosa Hou, 1999

Shankouia zhenghei Chen et al., 2004

Chengjiangocaris longiformis Hou & Bergström, 1991

Fuxianhuia protensa Hou, 1987

Pseudoiulia cambriensis Hou & Bergström, 1998

Fortiforceps foliosa Hou & Bergström, 1997

Occacaris oviformis Hou, 1999

Forfexicaris valida Hou, 1999

Jianfengia multisegmentalis Hou, 1987

Tanglangia longicaudata Luo & Hu, 1999

Parapeytoia yunnanensis Hou et al., 1995

Haikoucaris ercaiensis Chen et al., 2004

Alalcomenaeus sp. of Tanaka et al., 2013

Leanchoilia illecebrosa (Hou, 1987)

Retifacies abnormalis Hou et al., 1989

Pygmaclypeatus daziensis Zhang et al., 2000

Squamacula clypeata Hou & Bergström, 1997

Urokodia aequalis Hou et al., 1989

Sinoburius lunaris Hou et al., 1991

Acanthomeridion serratum Hou et al., 1989

Cindarella eucalla Chen et al., 1996

Xandarella spectaculum Hou et al., 1991

Skioldia aldna Hou & Bergström, 1997

Saperion glumaceum Hou et al., 1991

Kuamaia lata Hou, 1987

Naraoia spinosa Zhang & Hou, 1985

Misszhouia longicaudata (Zhang & Hou, 1985)

Eoredlichia intermedia (Lu, 1940)

Kuanyangia sp. of Hou & Bergström, 1997

Yunnanocephalus yunnanensis (Mansuy, 1912)

Parapaleomerus sinensis Hou et al., 1999

Kwanyinaspis maotianshanensis Zhang & Shu, 2005

Kunmingella douvillei (Mansuy, 1912)

Kunyangella cheni Huo, 1965

Primicaris larvaformis Zhang et al., 2003

Branchiocaris? yunnanensis Hou, 1987

Canadaspis laevigata (Hou & Bergström, 1991)

Chuandianella ovata (Lee, 1975)

Clypecaris pteroidea Hou, 1999

Combinivalvula chengjiangensis Hou, 1987

Synophalos xynos Hou et al., 2009

Yunnanocaris megista Hou, 1999

21 Chaetognatha

Protosagitta spinosa Hu, 2002

22 Hemichordata

Galeaplumosus abilus Hou et al., 2011

23 Ambulacraria of uncertain affinity

Phlogites longus Luo & Hu, 1999

Eldonia eumorpha (Sun & Hou, 1987)

Rotadiscus grandis Sun & Hou, 1987

24 Chordata

Shankouclava anningense Chen et al., 2003

Myllokunmingia fengjiaoa Shu et al., 1999

Zhongxiniscus intermedius Luo & Hu, 2001

Cathaymyrus haikouensis Luo & Hu, 2001

25 Bilateria of uncertain affinity

Dinomischus venustus Chen et al., 1989

Facivermis yunnanicus Hou & Chen, 1989

Vetulocystis catenata Shu et al., 2004

Yunnanozoon lividum Hou et al., 1991

26 Vetulicolians

Heteromorphus confusus (Chen & Zhou, 1997)

Pomatrum ventralis Luo & Hu, 1999

Yuyuanozoon magnificissimi Chen et al., 2003

Beidazoon venustum Shu, 2005

Vetulicola cuneata Hou, 1987

27 Animals of uncertain affinity

Allonnia phrixothrix Bengtson & Hou, 2001

Nidelric pugio Hou et al., 2014

Stromatoveris psygmoglena Shu et al., 2006

28 Species recorded from the Chengjiang biota

29 Phylogenetic arrangement of chapters

References

Systematic Index

General Index

Hou Xian–guang is former Director, Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, Yunnan University, Kunming

David J. Siveter is Professor Emeritus of Paleontology, University of Leicester

Derek J. Siveter is Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford

Richard J. Aldridge was Professor Emeritus and F.W. Bennett Professor of Geology, University of Leicester

Cong Pei–yun is Professor of Paleobiology, Yunnan University, Kunming

Sarah E. Gabbott is Professor of Paleobiology, University of Leicester

Ma Xiao–ya is Professor of Paleobiology, Yunnan University, Kunming, and the Natural History Museum, London

Mark A. Purnell is Professor of Paleobiology, University of Leicester

Mark Williams is Professor of Paleobiology, University of Leicester