Abstract
The origin of the Brachiopoda has long been a hotly debated topic, and various models have been proposed following the latest finds of exceptionally preserved material. The lower Cambrian (Stage 3) ...
Highlights
The origin of the Brachiopoda has long been a hotly debated topic, and various models have been proposed following the latest finds of exceptionally preserved material
Zhang et al (2009) restudied the morphology and organization of the enigmatic lophophore, which is composed of a pair of lophophoral arms that arch posteriorly rather than coiling anteriorly as commonly seen in fossil and recent lingulids, and the arms bear tentacles with a double row of cilia along their lateral edge, as in extant lingulid brachiopods
Fossils were examined under a Zeiss Stemi 305 microscope and photographed with the Zeiss Smart Zoom 5 Stereomicrographic system and Cannon camera mounted on a photographic system
Summary
Zhang et al (2009) restudied the morphology and organization of the enigmatic lophophore, which is composed of a pair of lophophoral arms that arch posteriorly rather than coiling anteriorly as commonly seen in fossil and recent lingulids, and the arms bear tentacles with a double row of cilia along their lateral edge, as in extant lingulid brachiopods This unique organization of the lophophore in Heliomedusa demonstrates that this species is possibly a brachiopod stem group member (Zhang et al 2009). New material described demonstrates that Heliomedusa is closely related to Mickwitzia based on their overall similarities in shell structure and ornamentation
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