Acanthomeridion serratum Rare Arthropod from Chengjiang Maotianshan Shales

Acanthomeridion serratum

Phylum Arthropoda, Family Acanthomeridiidae (Hou & Bergström, 1997), Genus Acanthomeridion erected (Hou, Chen & Lu, 1989)

Geological Time: Lower Cambrian (~525 million years ago)

Size: 16 mm long on a 45 mm by 38 mm matrix

Fossil Site: Chengjiang Maotianshan Shales, Quiongzhusi Section, Yu'anshan Member, Heilinpu Formation, Maotianshan Hill, Yuxi, Chengjiang County, Yunnan Province, China

Acanthomeridion is an arthropod from the Maotianshan Shales that is mainly recognized by a straight sided morphology. They exhibit free cheeks like trilobites, but differ greatly in overall appearance. Acanthomeridion is only known from the Chengjiang Biota, and is a monotypic one with this being the only species within its family. This is an exceptionally rare fossil of the Cambrian Explosion.

Ref: Xiang-Hong Feng, Xian-guang Hou (2008). The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China: The Flowering of Early Animal Life. John Wiley & Sons. p. 176.

Also see: Chengjiang Biota, Chengjiang Fossils, Cambrian Explosion