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A possible Early Cambrian chordate

Nature volume 377, pages 720–722 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

THE first chordate recorded from the Early Cambrian is the ceph-alochordate Yunnanozoon lividum from the 525 million-year-old Chengjiang fauna. Chordate features of Yunnanozoon are a noto-chord and an expanded filter-feeding pharynx with an endostyle. Segmented musculature and metameric branchial arches are shared with cephalochordates and craniates. Metameric gonads and an anteriorly extended notochord indicate cephalochordate affinities. Yunnanozoon expands the range of cephalochordate morphology known from the younger Pikaia gracilens and crown group forms such as amphioxus. Our identification predicts that other chordate clades (tunicates and craniates) had evolved by the Late Atdabanian, in the main burst of the Cambrian Explosion.

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Author notes

  1. J. Dzik: Instytut Paleobiologii, PAN, Al. Zwirki i Wigury 93, PL 02-089 Warszawa, Poland

  2. G. D. Edgecombe: Australian Museum, P.O. Box A285 Sydney South, New South Wales 2000, Australia

  3. L. Ramsköld: Museum of Palaeontology, University of Uppsala, Norbyvägen 22, S-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chi-Ming-Ssu, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China

    J.-Y. Chen, J. Dzik, G. D. Edgecombe, L. Ramsköld & G.-Q. Zhou

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  2. J. Dzik
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  3. G. D. Edgecombe
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  4. L. Ramsköld
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  5. G.-Q. Zhou
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Chen, JY., Dzik, J., Edgecombe, G. et al. A possible Early Cambrian chordate. Nature 377, 720–722 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377720a0

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