The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China: The Flowering of Early Animal Life

The celebrated lower Cambrian Chengjiang biota of Yunnan Province, China, represents one of the most significant ever paleontological discoveries. Deposits of ancient mudstone, about 520 million years old, have yielded a spectacular variety of exquisitely preserved fossils that record the early diversification of animal life. Since the discovery of the first specimens in 1984, many thousands of fossils have been collected, exceptionally preserving not just the shells and carapaces of the animals, but also their soft tissues in fine detail. This special preservation has produced fossils of rare beauty; they are also of outstanding scientific importance as sources of evidence about the origins of animal groups that have sustained global biodiversity to the present day. Much of the scientific documentation of the Chengjiang biota is in Chinese, and the first edition of this book was the first in English to provide fossil enthusiasts with a comprehensive overview of the fauna. The second edition has been fully updated and includes a new chapter on other exceptionally preserved fossils of Cambrian age, exciting new fossil finds from Chengjiang, and a phylogenetic framework for the biota. Displaying some 250 figures of marvelous specimens, this book presents to professional and amateur paleontologists, and all those fascinated by evolutionary biology, the aesthetic and scientific quality of the Chengjiang fossils. INDICE: Foreword .Preface .Part One Geological and Evolutionary Setting of the Biota .1 Geological time and the evolution of early life on Earth .2 The evolutionary significance of the Chengjiang biota .3 The discovery and study of the Chengjiang Lagerstätte .4 The distribution and geological setting of the Chengjiang Lagerstätte .5 The taphonomy and preservation of the Chengjiang fossils .6 The paleoecology of the Chengjiang biota .7 Cambrian Lagerstätten .Part Two Chengjiang Fossils .8 Algae .Fuxianospira gyrata Chen & Zhou, 1997 .Megaspirellus houi Chen & Erdtmann, 1991 .Sinocylindra yunnanensis Chen & Erdtmann, 1991 .Yuknessia sp. of Chen & Erdtmann, 1991 .9 Ctenophora .Galeactena hemispherica Ou et al., 2015 .Maotianoascus octonarius Chen & Zhou, 1997 .Batofasciculus ramificans Hou et al., 1999 .Yunnanoascus haikouensis Hu et al., 2007 .10 Porifera .Paradiagoniella xiaolantianensis Chen et al., 2014 .Triticispongia diagonata Mehl & Reitner, 1993 .Saetaspongia densa Mehl & Reitner, 1993 .Leptomitus teretiusculus Chen et al., 1989 .Choiaella radiata Rigby & Hou, 1995 .Choia xiaolantianensis Hou et al., 1999 .Allantospongia mica Rigby & Hou, 1995 .Leptomitella conica Chen et al., 1989 .Paraleptomitella dictyodroma Chen et al., 1989 .Paraleptomitella globula Chen et al., 1989 .Quadrolaminiella diagonalis Chen et al., 1990 .11 Cnidaria .Archisaccophyllia kunmingensis Hou et al., 2005 .Xianguangia sinica Chen & Erdtmann, 1991 .12 Entoprocta .Cotyledion tylodes Luo & Hu, 1999 .13 Phoronida .Iotuba chengjiangensis Chen & Zhou, 1997 .14 Brachiopoda .Yuganotheca elegans Zhang et al., 2014 .Heliomedusa orienta Sun & Hou, 1987 .Longtancunella chengjiangensis Hou et al., 1999 .Diandongia pista Rong, 1974 .Lingulellotreta malongensis (Rong, 1974) .Lingulella chengjiangensis Jin et al., 1993 .15 Annelida .Cambrosipunculus tentaculatus Huang et al., 2004 .Maotianchaeta fuxianella Chen, 2004 .16 Trochozoa of uncertain affinity .Ambrolinevitus maximus Jiang, 1982 .Ambrolinevitus ventricosus Qian, 1978 .Burithes yunnanensis Hou et al., 1999 .Linevitus opimus Yu, 1974 .Nectocaris pteryx Conway Morris, 1976 .Wiwaxia papilio Zhang et al., 2015 .17 Priapulida and relatives .Mafangscolex sinensis (Hou & Sun, 1988) .Maotianshania cylindrica Sun & Hou, 1987 .Cricocosmia jinningensis Hou & Sun, 1988 .Paraselkirkia sinica (Luo & Hou, 1999) .Corynetis brevis Luo & Hu in Luo et al., 1999 .Sicyophorus rarus Luo & Hu, 1999 .Palaeopriapulites parvus Hou et al., 1999 .Eximipriapulus globocaudatus Ma et al., 2014 .Xiaoheiqingella peculiaris Hu, 2002 .Omnidens amplus Hou et al., 2006 .Acosmia maotiania Chen & Zhou, 1997 .Archotuba elongata (Luo & Hou, 1999) .18 Lobopodians .Paucipodia inermis Chen et al., 1995 .Diania cactiformis Liu et al., 2011 .Microdictyon sinicum Chen et al., 1989 .Onychodictyon ferox Hou et al., 1991 .Cardiodictyon catenulum Hou et al., 1991 .Hallucigenia fortis Hou & Bergström, 1995 .Luolishania longicruris Hou & Chen, 1989 .Antennacanthopodia gracilis Ou & Shu, 2011 .19 Anomalocaridids .Anomalocaris saron Hou et al., 1995 .Amplectobelua symbrachiata Hou et al., 1995 .Lyrarapax unguispinus Cong et al., 2014 .Cucumericrus decoratus Hou et al., 1995 .20 Euarthropoda .Isoxys auritus (Jiang, 1982) .Isoxys paradoxus Hou, 1987 .Pectocaris spatiosa Hou, 1999 .Shankouia zhenghei Chen et al., 2004 .Chengjiangocaris longiformis Hou & Bergström, 1991 .Fuxianhuia protensa Hou, 1987 .Pseudoiulia cambriensis Hou & Bergström, 1998 .Fortiforceps foliosa Hou & Bergström, 1997 .Occacaris oviformis Hou, 1999 .Forfexicaris valida Hou, 1999 .Jianfengia multisegmentalis Hou, 1987 .Tanglangia longicaudata Luo & Hu, 1999 .Parapeytoia yunnanensis Hou et al., 1995 .Haikoucaris ercaiensis Chen et al., 2004 .Alalcomenaeus sp. of Tanaka et al., 2013 .Leanchoilia illecebrosa (Hou, 1987) .Retifacies abnormalis Hou et al., 1989 .Pygmaclypeatus daziensis Zhang et al., 2000 .Squamacula clypeata Hou & Bergström, 1997 .Urokodia aequalis Hou et al., 1989 .Sinoburius lunaris Hou et al., 1991 .Acanthomeridion serratum Hou et al., 1989 .Cindarella eucalla Chen et al., 1996 .Xandarella spectaculum Hou et al., 1991 .Skioldia aldna Hou & Bergström, 1997 .Saperion glumaceum Hou et al., 1991 .Kuamaia lata Hou, 1987 .Naraoia spinosa Zhang & Hou, 1985 .Misszhouia longicaudata (Zhang & Hou, 1985) .Eoredlichia intermedia (Lu, 1940) .Kuanyangia sp. of Hou & Bergström, 1997 .Yunnanocephalus yunnanensis (Mansuy, 1912) .Parapaleomerus sinensis Hou et al., 1999 .Kwanyinaspis maotianshanensis Zhang & Shu, 2005 .Kunmingella douvillei (Mansuy, 1912) .Kunyangella cheni Huo, 1965 .Primicaris larvaformis Zhang et al., 2003 .Branchiocaris? yunnanensis Hou, 1987 . Canadaspis laevigata (Hou & Bergström, 1991) .Chuandianella ovata (Lee, 1975) .Clypecaris pteroidea Hou, 1999 .Combinivalvula chengjiangensis Hou, 1987 .Synophalos xynos Hou et al., 2009 .Yunnanocaris megista Hou, 1999 .21 Chaetognatha .Protosagitta spinosa Hu, 2002 .22 Hemichordata .Galeaplumosus abilus Hou et al., 2011 .23 Ambulacraria of uncertain affinity .Phlogites longus Luo & Hu, 1999 .Eldonia eumorpha (Sun & Hou, 1987) .Rotadiscus grandis Sun & Hou, 1987 .24 Chordata .Shankouclava anningense Chen et al., 2003 .Myllokunmingia fengjiaoa Shu et al., 1999 .Zhongxiniscus intermedius Luo & Hu, 2001 .Cathaymyrus haikouensis Luo & Hu, 2001 .25 Bilateria of uncertain affinity .Dinomischus venustus Chen et al., 1989 .Facivermis yunnanicus Hou & Chen, 1989 .Vetulocystis catenata Shu et al., 2004 .Yunnanozoon lividum Hou et al., 1991 .26 Vetulicolians .Heteromorphus confusus (Chen & Zhou, 1997) .Pomatrum ventralis Luo & Hu, 1999 .Yuyuanozoon magnificissimi Chen et al., 2003 .Beidazoon venustum Shu, 2005 .Vetulicola cuneata Hou, 1987 .27 Animals of uncertain affinity .Allonnia phrixothrix Bengtson & Hou, 2001 .Nidelric pugio Hou et al., 2014 .Stromatoveris psygmoglena Shu et al., 2006 .28 Species recorded from the Chengjiang biota .29 Phylogenetic arrangement of chapters .References .Systematic Index .General Index

• ISBN: 978-1-118-89638-9
• Editorial: Wiley–Blackwell
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 328
• Fecha Publicación: 02/05/2017
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés