Large Xidazoon Enigmatic Chengjiang Biota Vetulicolian

Xidazoon stephanus

Phylum Vetulicolia

Geological Time: Early Cambrian, (~525 million years ago)

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 90 mm overall Carapace: 57 mm long by 40 mm across on a 120 mm by 80 mm matrix

Fossil Site: Chengjiang Maotianshan Shales - Quiongzhusi Section, Yu’anshan Member, Heilinpu Formation, Mafang Village, Haikou County, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

Code: CJF1015

Price: $625.00 - sold


Xidazoon VetulicolianDescription: This unusual fossil is a rare member of the Vetulicolians, an enigmatic group which some scientists place in their own phylum (Phylum Vetulicolia). They are thought to have been swimmers that either were filter feeders or detritivores. One researcher places them withVetulicolia the Urochordates, giving them strong affinity with the Phylum Chordata. At present, there is no agreement as to their systematic placement. This specimen comes from the strata immediately above the Chengjiang Boita, and is thus slightly younger, more closely contemporary with the Burgess Shale Fauna of British Columbia. There are three genera typically assigned to the Vetulicolia: Vetulicola, Banffia, and Xidazoon. This one is quite unusual with a circular mouth which was thought to have served it in filter-feeding.

Also see: Chengjiang Biota Fauna List Chengjiang Fossils

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Xidazoon stephanus

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