Maldybulakia

[4][3][5] In 1992, the type species of Maldybulakia is described from the Pragian to Emsian-aged Sheshen'karinskaya Formation (also known as the Sheshenkarinskoy Suite[6]) in central Kazakhstan, with scientific name Lophodesmus mirabilis.

[1] In 2023, new species M. saierensis is described from Pridoli-aged ‘Xiemisitai’ Formation in Saier Mountains, Hoboksar, western Junggar, Xinjiang, northwest China, and it is the earliest record of the genus.

[1][6][3] According to the only associated fossils, the abundant lycopod flora with M. malcolmi and the presence of spiracles suggests terrestrial habits for Maldybulakia.

[3] Due to lack of information on the cephalic structure, appendages, position of the gonopore and genital morphology, it is controversial where to place Maldybulakia within Arthropoda.

[1] After 2010s, Maldybulakia is commonly treated as a xiphosuran, a group including modern horseshoe crabs, due to morphological similarity with the synziphosurine Willwerathia.

Reconstruction of Willwerathia , xiphosuran possibly related to Maldybulakia .