Acanthomeridion serratum Rare Arthropod from Chengjiang Biota

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 serratum 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.

 


Acanthomeridion
 
 

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

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