Qingjiang biota

The Qingjiang biota are a major discovery of fossilized remains dating from the early Cambrian period approximately 518 million years ago.

[1] The remains consist at least 20,000 individual specimens, and were discovered near the Danshui River in the Hubei province of China in 2019.

Shelly fossils found at the site include trilobites, radiodonts, lobopods, bradoriids, brachiopods, hyolithids, mollusks, chancelloriids, kinorhynchs, priapulids, and articulated sponge spicules.

[2] Initial publications regarding the site stated that 4,351 of the collected specimens had been examined,[2] and 101 species had been identified, 53 of which were new to science.

[5] Talks are reportedly underway with local government to protect the site to ensure the longevity of continued research on the deposited specimens.