Yunnanozoon

Yunnanozoon
Fossil of Yunnanozoon lividum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Genus: Yunnanozoon
Species:
Y. lividum
Binomial name
Yunnanozoon lividum
Hou, Ramskold & Bergstrom, 1991

Yunnanozoon lividum is an extinct species of marine chordate from the Yunnan province, China. It resided in the Cambrian period. about 520 mya ago.

Morphology

The Yunnanozoon resembles a craniate and has a fusiform body and pharyngeal teeth. Towards the front are 7 filamentous arches, which were covered by sacs. Towards the back of the body is a gut. The front half contains rods.

Fossil and anatomy of Y. lividum
Illustration

References

  1. "Reinterpretation of Yunnanozoon as the earliest known chordate". Nature.