Rare Shelled Arthropod Branchiocaris yunnanensis from Chengjiang

Branchiocaris yunnanensis

Phylum Arthropoda

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

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): 37 mm long by 28 mm across and 20 mm long by 12 mm acrosson a 50 mm by 50 mm matrix

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

Code: CJF233

Price: $325.00


Branchiocaris yunnanensis Chengjiang FossilsDescription: This unusual Phyllocarid arthropod is known as Branchiocaris. Phyllocarids are one of the lesser known branchiopod crustaceans from the Cambrian where they are among the earliest animals with a hard Branchiocarisshell. They have a fairly large carapace, which protects the anterior part of the body. This structure hinged along the dorsal edge like a bivalve. Usually only the carapace is found. Rarely are the soft parts preserved. Branchiocaris has been placed by some as a near relative of Marella of the Burgess Shale, an assignment not agreed to by all researchers. This example has a pair of bivalved arthropods preserved, with the smaller most likely Isoxys auritus. The taxon is also known from the Burgess Shale of British Columbia, while another member of the genus has been found in the House Range of Utah.

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