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New paleoscolecid worms from the early Cambrian north margin of the Yangtze Platform, South China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2017

Yuning Yang ,
Xingliang Zhang ,
Yuanlong Zhao ,
Yiru Qi  and
Linhao Cui
Yuning Yang
Affiliation:
College of Resource and Environment Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China 〈ynyang333@163.com〉, 〈zhaoyuanlong@126.com〉 State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy (Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Nanjing 210008, China
Xingliang Zhang
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China 〈xzhang69@nwu.edu.cn〉, 〈qiyiru1988@163.com〉, 〈570325901@qq.com〉
Yuanlong Zhao
Affiliation:
College of Resource and Environment Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China 〈ynyang333@163.com〉, 〈zhaoyuanlong@126.com〉
Yiru Qi
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China 〈xzhang69@nwu.edu.cn〉, 〈qiyiru1988@163.com〉, 〈570325901@qq.com〉
Linhao Cui
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China 〈xzhang69@nwu.edu.cn〉, 〈qiyiru1988@163.com〉, 〈570325901@qq.com〉
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Abstract

The Cambrian Yanwangbian assemblage (Series 2, Stage 4) in South Shaanxi, China, is one of the Burgess Shale–type faunas as it represents the only relatively diverse Cambrian biota from the north margin of the Yangzte Platform, South China. The paleoscolecids (Cycloneuralia) illustrated herein are one of the major components of the fauna, although they appear to be much less abundant than skeletonized fossils, according to available collections. A new taxon, Shaanxiscolex xixiangensis new genus new species, is described based on the scleritome pattern: each annulus has two rows of alternating Hadimopanella-type plates positioned close to the borders, and a mosaic pattern of microplates occurs between the plates and within intersegmental furrows. The occurrence of the new taxon confirms a fairly diversified and widespread distribution of paleoscolecidan worms recognized in the early Cambrian of South China. Moreover, the ecology of paleoscolecids is reappraised based on burial position of the S. xixiangensis and gut contens of Cambrian taxa from South China, hinting that paleoscolecids (at least some taxa) were both deposit feeders and carnivores, as well as active bioturbators in the substrates of the Cambrian sea, which sheds new light on the ‘Cambrian Substrate Revolution.’

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 92 , Special Issue 1: Cambrian Explosion , January 2018 , pp. 49 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © 2017, The Paleontological Society 

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