Waptia-like Euarthropods from Burgess - Shale - type Biotas in the Early Cambrian of Eastern Yunnan, China

Abstract

Waptia-like euarthropods existed for rather a long time in the Early Cambrian of eastern Yunnan; well preserved representatives come mainly from three Burgess Shale-type biotas: Chengjiang, Xiaoshiba and Guanshan. Here, we introduce a newly-discovered bivalved euarthropod from the Guanshan biota, the specific identity of which cannot be confirmed due to the absence of soft parts and poor preservation of the specimen, but its general morphology allows it be attributed to Waptia. Two representatives from the Chengjiang and Xiaoshiba biotas are also reconsidered: the preservation mode and length of specimens of Clypecaris pteroidea are variable; Clypecaris serrate has limbs beneath the carapace, which can number up to at least 4 pairs. The fossil sections bearing Waptia-like euarthropods occur over a wide area around Dianchi Lake.