Paleobiota of the Maotianshan Shales

This is a list of fossils found at Maotianshan Shales, whose most famous assemblage of organisms are referred to as the Chengjiang biota.

Laojieella An ecdysozoan worm considered close to the priapulids, it has a spiny proboscis, an elliptical theca on the posterior part of the trunk, and a caudal appendage.

Xiaoheiqingella Fourteen specimens, five previously included in “Yunnanpriapulus” A priapulid worm thought to belong to the crown group.

The long, paired, cirriform structures at the end of the body could have been sensory, or perhaps represent viscera not externally present in life.

Paucipodia A large unarmoured lobopodian, commonly found in association with mass death-beds of legless worms and Eldonia.

Facivermis Thirty specimens, one formerly assigned to “Xishania” Derived Luolishaniid lobopodian with five setiferous sieving appendages, and lacking any walking limbs.

Hallucigenia Two specimens A hallucigeniid lobopodian with a bulbous sclerotized head and two pairs of small feeding appendages, borne on a short neck.

While hurdiids are poorly known from the formation and surrounding region, several specimens attributable to the family have been discovered, but remain unnamed.

Hurdiids (peytoiids[3]) have historically been considered absent, or at least rare, from the Chengjiang Biota, an observation that researchers have found confusing given their regularity at other sites.

In recent years, a number of fragmentary hurdiid fossils have been described, including 3 partial appendages belonging to a new species of Stanleycaris,[4] an isolated sclerite assigned to Cambroraster,[5] Zhenghecaris (the affinities of which, even its identity as a radiodont, remains questionable), and isolated lateral scelrites (also questionable).

Cucumericrus An enigmatic arthropod that has been tentatively classified as a possible radiodont, although a position closely related to Erratus as the most primitive deuteropod is more likely.

Glossocaris Isoxys A basal nektonic arthropod that possessed a bivalved carapace, and large circular eyes, related to Surusicaris from the Burgess Shale.

C. serrata is noted for the modification of an anterior pair of limbs into spined grasping appendages, indicating a predatory lifestyle.

Comptaluta Indiana Jiucunella Kunmingella Kunyangella Liangshanella Malongella Parakunmingella Spinokunmingella Tsunyiella Haikoucaris Alalcomenaeus A small arthropod related to Leanchoilia, also known from the Burgess Shale.

Cindarella Kuamaia Panlongia Pygmaclypeatus Retifacies Saperion Sidneyia Sinoburius Skioldia Squamacula Tonglaiia Single specimen.

Xandarella Zhugeia Misszhouia Naraoia Kangacaris Eoredlichia Kuanyangia Palaeolenus Tsunyidiscus Wutingapsis Yunnanocephalus Amiskwia Inquicus Ankalodous Eognathacantha Protosagitta Iotuba Orthrozanclus Wiwaxia Ambrolinevitus Burithes Glossolithes Linevitus Eophonoris Cotyledion Cambrocornulitus Diandongia Heliomedusa Lingulella Lingulellotreta Longtancunella Yuganotheca Yunnanozoon Cathaymyrus Haikouichthys Myllokunmingia Shankouclava Likely one of the earliest known tunicates, alongside Cheungkongella and possibly “Palaeoikopleuria”.

Zhongjianichthys Zhongxiniscus Beidazoon Didazoon Pomatrum Vetulicola Yuyuanozoon Phlogites Senior synonym of Cheungkongella ancestralis.

Rotadiscus Stellostomites Dianchicystis Vetulocystis Cambrobranchus Galeaplumosus Yuknessia Maotianoascus Sinoascus Allantospongia Choia Choiaella Leptomitella Leptomitus Quadrolaminiella Saetaspongia Archisaccophyllia Nailiana Priscapennamarina Xianguangia Allonnia Anthrotum Batofasciculus Calathites Cambrotentacus Conicula Daihua Dinomischus Discoides Hippotrum Jiucunia Maanshania Macrocephalus Petalilium Possible synonym of Nectocaris pteryx Parvulonoda Phacatrum Phasangula Pristitoites Rhipitrus Macroalgae rank fourth in species-level diversity behind arthropods, priapulids, and sponges, and account for 71.5% of total abundance from the biota, particularly dominated by unattached (floating, planktonic, and drifting) species.

[9] Enteromophites Fuxianospira Liulingjitaenia Longfengshania Morania Paralongfengshania Paradelesseria Plantulaformis Punctariopsis Sinocylindra Tawuia Yunnanospirellus