Phosphatized rare star-like mouth disc of Punctatus and its functional morphology from the earliest Cambrian of the South Shaanxi China |
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Authors: | Yunhuan Liu Yong Li Tiequan Shao Zhixin Zhu Wanqian Zhang Zhuo Wang Weixian Yang and Rongxi Li |
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Institution: | (1) Earth Science Faculty, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China;(2) Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China |
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Abstract: | The Meishucun stage is the prelude in deciphering the Cambrian Explosion. In this prominent stage, rapid radioactive evolution
and body-plan innovation have taken place and different associations of organism have been shaped. In this paper we report
several 3D-preserved rare star-like fossils with finely preserved soft tissues which were recovered from the Kuanchuanpu Member
of the Dengying Formation in South Shaanxi, China in 2003. By studying on functional morphology and analogy with mouthpart
of Punctatus, there are evidences that this star-like organism approaches the coelenterates in systematic classification and the centre
of star-like organism is its mouth. The appearance of coelenterates marks the real beginning of metazoan evolution. Therefore,
it has the prominent position in the origin and evolutionary history of organisms. Perhaps the star-like organism represents
the early types of coelenterate with original tentacles. These new materials provide new evidence for the origin, evolution
and the functional evolution of the metazoan during the early stage of the Cambrian Explosion.
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Translated from Acta Micropalaeontologica Sinica, 2006, 23(1): 62–69 译自: 微体古生物学报] |
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Keywords: | rare star-like mouth disc Punctatus coelenterat functional morphology Kuanchuanpu Member of the Dengying Formation Ningqiang Shaanxi |
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