Anatomy and relationships of the fuxianhuiid euarthropod Guangweicaris from the early Cambrian Guanshan Biota in Kunming, Yunnan, Southwest China revisited

Abstract

The Guanshan Biota (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) is a typical Burgess Shale-type biota, and is one of the most significant Cambrian Konservat-Lagerstätten from China, in addition to the well-known Chengjiang and Kaili biotas. Guangweicaris is a relatively common arthropod from the Guanshan Biota. Based on new specimens from the Longbaoshan and Xinglongcun sections of the Wulongqing Formation in Kunming, we herein report novel features of Guangweicaris spinatus, such as the eye-bearing anterior sclerite that is associated with the head shield, as well as revised details of the trunk, including the ventral appendages. A detailed comparison of Guangweicaris, Fuxianhuia and Shankouia suggests a close affinity between Guangweicaris and Fuxianhuia, which improves our understanding of the evolution of early Cambrian euarthropods.

Keywords

• euarthropod
• Cambrian
• Guanshan Biota
• Yunnan
• Southwest China