The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China

by Xian-guang Hou (Yunnan University); Richard Aldridge (University of Leicester); Jan Bergstrom (Swedish Museum of Natural History); David J. Siveter (University of Leicester); Derek Siveter (University of Oxford); Xiang-Hong Feng (Yunnan University)

• ISBN13: 9781405106733
• ISBN10: 1405106735
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-02-01
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

The Chengjiang biota is one of the most remarkable fossil discoveries ever made. The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang is the first book in English to provide fossil enthusiasts with an overview of the fauna. 100 superb full color plates. First English language illustrated guide to this important fauna. A must-have for all palaeontologists worldwide.To see a collection of images from the book, click on the following link: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/chengjiang

Author Biography

Hou Xian-guang is a Professor at Yunnan University, Kunming, where he is Director of the Research Center for Chengjiang Biota. Previously he was a Professor at the Palaeontological Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing. He discovered the Chengjiang biota and has studied it for 20 years.

Richard Aldridge is FW Bennett Professor of Geology at the University of Leicester. He specializes in early vertebrates, particularly the extinct conodonts, and also works on a range of exceptionally preserved fossils. He is President of the International Palaeontological Association.

Jan Bergström is Professor of Palaeozoology at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. His major paleontological interests are in the evolution of the oldest arthropods and the evolution of life at the beginning of the Paleozoic.

David Siveter is Professor of Palaeontology at the University of Leicester. His main research interests are in Paleozoic arthropods, especially ostracods, and also exceptionally preserved Paleozoic faunas.

Derek Siveter is Assistant Curator at the University Museum of Natural History, and Reader in Earth Sciences, University of Oxford. His research focuses on arthropods, especially those of the Early Paleozoic, together with fossils from several Konservat-Lagerstätten.

Feng Xiang-hong is the Deputy Head of the Research Center for the Chengjiang Biota, Yunnan University, and is in charge of foreign affairs and project organizer for the center. She has been involved with the collection and promulgation of the Chengjiang Biota since its discovery.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	xi
Part One Geological and Evolutionary Setting of the Biota	1	(28)
1 Geological time and the evolution of early life on Earth	3	(5)
2 The evolutionary significance of the Chengjiang biota	8	(2)
3 The discovery and initial study of the Chengjiang Lagerstätte	10	(6)
4 The distribution and geological setting of the Chengjiang Lagerstätte	16	(7)
5 The taphonomy and preservation of the Chengjiang fossils	23	(2)
6 The paleoecology of the Chengjiang biota	25	(4)
Part Two Chengjiang Fossils	29	(189)
7 Algae	30	(4)
Fuxianospira gyrata Chen & Zhou, 1997	30	(2)
Sinocylindra yunnanensis Chen & Erdtmann, 1991	32	(2)
8 Phylum Porifera	34	(20)
Triticispongia diagonata Mehl & Reitner, 1993	34	(2)
Saetaspongia densa Mehl & Reitner, 1993	36	(2)
Choiaella radiata Rigby & Hou, 1995	38	(2)
Choia xiaolantianensis Hou et al., 1999	40	(2)
Allantospongia mica Rigby & Hou, 1995	42	(2)
Leptomitus teretiusculus Chen et al., 1989	44	(2)
Leptomitella conica Chen et al., 1989	46	(2)
Paraleptomitella dictyodroma Chen et al., 1989	48	(2)
Paraleptomitella globula Chen et al., 1989	50	(2)
Quadrolaminiella diagonalis Chen et al., 1990	52	(2)
9 Phylum Cnidaria	54	(2)
Xianguangia sinica Chen & Erdtmann, 1991	54	(2)
10 Phylum Ctenophora	56	(2)
Maotianoascus octonarius Chen & Zhou, 1997	56	(2)
11 Phylum Nematomorpha	58	(6)
Cricocosmia jinningensis Hou & Sun, 1988	58	(2)
Palaeoscolex sinensis Hou & Sun, 1988	60	(2)
Maotianshania cylindrica Sun & Hou, 1987	62	(2)
12 Phylum Priapulida	64	(10)
Palaeopriapulites parvus Hou et al., 1999	64	(2)
Protopriapulites haikouensis Hou et al., 1999	66	(2)
Acosmia maotiania Chen & Zhou, 1997	68	(2)
Paraselkirkia jinn ingensis Hou et al., 1999	70	(2)
Archotuba conoidalis Hou et al., 1999	72	(2)
13 Phylum Hyolitha	74	(8)
Linevitus opimus Yu, 1974	74	(2)
Burithes yunnanensis Hou et al., 1999	76	(2)
Ambrolinevitus maximus Jiang, 1982	78	(2)
Ainbrolinevitus ventricosus Qian, 1978	80	(2)
14 Phylum Lob opodia	82	(12)
Luolishania longicruris Hou & Chen, 1989	82	(2)
Paucipodia inermis Chen et al., 1995	84	(2)
Cardiodictyon catenulum Hou et al., 1991	86	(2)
Hallucigenia fortis Hou & Bergström, 1995	88	(2)
Microdictyon sinicum Chen et al., 1989	90	(2)
Onychodictyon ferox Hou et al., 1991	92	(2)
15 Anomalocarididae (phylum uncertain)	94	(8)
Anomalocaris saron Hou et al., 1995	95	(1)
Amplectobelua symbrachiata Hou et al., 1995	96	(2)
Cucumericrus decoratus Hou et al., 1995	98	(2)
Parapeytoia yunnanensis Hou et al., 1995	100	(2)
16 Phylum Arthropoda	102	(76)
Urokodia aequalis Hou et al., 1989	103	(1)
Fuxianhuia protensa Hou, 1987	104	(2)
Chengjiangocaris longiformis Hou & Bergström, 1991	106	(2)
Pisinnocaris subconigera Hou & Bergström, 1998	108	(2)
Dongshanocaris foliiformis (Hou & Bergström, 1998)	110	(2)
Canadaspis laevigata (Hou & Bergström, 1991)	112	(2)
Kunmingella douvillei (Mansuy, 1912)	114	(2)
Isoxys auritus (Jiang, 1982)	116	(2)
Isoxys paradoxus Hou, 1987	118	(2)
Yunnanocaris megista Hou, 1999	120	(2)
Leanchoilia illecebrosa (Hou, 1987)	122	(2)
Jianfengia multisegmentalis Hou, 1987	124	(2)
Tanglangia caudata Luo & Hu, 1999	126	(2)
Fort/forceps foliosa Hou & Bergström, 1997	128	(2)
Occacaris oviformis Hou, 1999	130	(2)
Forfexicaris valida Hou, 1999	132	(2)
Pseudoiulia cambriensis Hou & Bergström, 1998	134	(2)
Waptia ovata (Lee, 1975)	136	(2)
Clypecaris pteroidea Hou, 1999	138	(2)
Combinivalvula chengjiangensis Hou, 1987	140	(2)
Odaraia? eurypetala Hou & Sun, 1988	142	(2)
Pectocaris spatiosa Hou, 1999	144	(2)
Branchiocaris? yunnanensis Hou, 1987	146	(2)
Parapaleomeru sinensis Hou et al., 1999	148	(2)
Naraoia longicaudata Zhang & Hou, 1985	150	(2)
Naraoia spinosa Zhang & Hou, 1985	152	(2)
Eoredlichia intermedia (Lu, 1940)	154	(2)
Kuanyangia pustulosa (Lu, 1941)	156	(2)
Yunnanocephalus yunnanensis (Mansuy, 1912)	158	(2)
Ret facies abnormalis Hou et al., 1989	160	(2)
Squamacula clypeata Hou & Bergström, 1997	162	(2)
Kuamaia lata Hou, 1987	164	(2)
Skioldia aldna Hou & Bergström, 1997	166	(2)
Saperion glumaceum Hou et al., 1991	168	(2)
Cinderella eucalla Chen et al., 1996	170	(2)
Xandarella spectaculum Hou et al.,1991	172	(2)
Sinoburius lunaris Hou et al., 1991	174	(2)
Acanthomeridion serratum Hou et al., 1989	176	(2)
17 Phylum Brachiopoda	178	(10)
Diandongia pista Rong, 1974	178	(2)
Longtancunella chengjiangensis Hou et al., 1999	180	(2)
Lingulellotreta malongensis (Rong, 1974)	182	(2)
Lingulella chengjiangensis Jin et al., 1993	184	(2)
Heliomedusa orienta Sun & Hou, 1987	186	(2)
18 Phylum? Vetulicolia	188	(4)
Vetulicola cuneata Hou, 1987	188	(2)
Banffia confuse Chen & Zhou, 1997	190	(2)
19 Phylum Chordata	192	(2)
Myllokunmingia fengjiaoa Shu et al., 1999	192	(2)
20 Enigmatic animals	194	(20)
Allonnia phrixothrix Bengtson & Hou, 2001	194	(2)
Batofasciculus ramificans Hou et al., 1999	196	(2)
Dinomischus venustus Chen et al., 1989	198	(2)
Eldonia eumorpha (Sun & Hou, 1987)	200	(2)
Facivermis yunnanicus Hou & Chen, 1989	202	(2)
Jiucunia petalina Hou et al., 1999	204	(2)
Maanshania crusticeps Hou et al., 1999	206	(2)
Parvulonoda dubia Rigby & Hou, 1995	208	(2)
Rotadiscus grandis Sun & Hou, 1987	210	(2)
Yunnanozoon lividum Hou et al., 1991	212	(2)
21 Species recorded from the Chengjiang biota	214	(4)
References	218	(11)
Index	229