Acanthomeridion
Reconstruction of Acanthomeridion serratum
- China ( Chengjiang )
Acanthomeridion serratum is a kind of uncertain position within the arthropods ( Arthropoda ).
Features
Acanthomeridion serratum is parallel-sided and up to 35 mm long. The head plate has a circular front edge and has free cheeks, which are separated by a fine seam from the rest of the head, similar to the most Trilobiten. The hull consists of 11 smooth tergites laterally extending in rear-facing spines that are longer in the back tergites. The last tergite has a distinct furrow, from which bursts forth a long dorsal spine.
Limbs and soft parts have not been preserved.
Way of life
About the lifestyle can be due to the missing limb is little point, but it is believed because of the body shape that Acanthomeridion serratum possibly lived on the seabed.
Locality
A total of eight specimens of this species were found in the Chengjiang Faunengemeinschaft, China. In other Cambrian fossil sites, this type is not known.
System
The systematic classification within the arthropods ( Arthropoda ) has not yet been clarified. Because of the lack of information on the limbs and the morphological differences from other arthropods Acanthomeridion serratum is the only representative in the genus Acanthomeridion and was placed in the mono- generic family Acanthomeridiidae 1997.