Banffia, An Enigmatic Fossil from Chengjiang Biota

This unusual fossil is Banffia confusa, a member of the Vetulicolians, an enigmatic group that some scientists place in their own phylum (Phylum Vetulicolia). The Vetulicolians are thought to have been swimmers (notice the fine segmentation) that either were filter feeders or detritivores. One researcher places them with the Urochordates, giving them strong affinity with the Phylum Chordata. At present, there is no agreement as to their systematic placement.

This species is found only within the Chengjiang Biota, but the genus also is found in the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale of British Columbia, as indicated by the place name (Banff) used to name the genus by Charles Doolittle Walcott in 1911.

Also see: Chengjiang Biota