Acanthomeridion was a 35 mm-long animal, with 11 segments ending in rear-facing spines. The head features free cheeks separated from the rest of the head by sutures. This is analogous with trilobites. Otherwise, affinities are mainly unclear.[5] More recently discovered specimens of the species Acanthomeridion anacanthus have paired gut diverticula as have been seen in artiopods.[6] No fossils exposing the limbs have yet been found, but they are thought to be biramous with the upper section of the limb holding the gills. As limbs have not been found, it is uncertain whether Acanthomeridion was a seafloor-dweller or a swimmer. The streamlining suggests that it swam, but is inconclusive.
Taxonomy
Acanthomeridion is considered a primitive member of Artiopoda. Some studies have put it as having affinities with petalopleurans or xandarellids, but a more recent study by Hou, Williams et al. including the more recently discovered specimens suggest that it is the most basal member of the clade.[6]
References
^Yang, C.; Li, X.-H.; Zhu, M.; Condon, D. J.; Chen, J. (2018). "Geochronological constraint on the Cambrian Chengjiang biota, South China" (PDF). Journal of the Geological Society. 175 (4): 659–666. Bibcode:2018JGSoc.175..659Y. doi:10.1144/jgs2017-103. ISSN 0016-7649. S2CID 135091168.
^Xianguang Hou; Mark Williams; Sarah Gabbott; David J. Siveter; Derek J. Siveter; Peiyun Cong; Xiaoya Ma; Robert Sansom (2016). "A new species of the artiopodan arthropod Acanthomeridion from the lower Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte, China, and the phylogenetic significance of the genus". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 15 (9): 733–740. doi:10.1080/14772019.2016.1229695. hdl:2381/41202. S2CID 3430086.
^X.-G. Hou, J.-Y. Chen & H.-Z. Lu (1989). "Early Cambrian new arthropods from Chengjiang, Yunnan". Acta Palaeontologica Sinica. 28: 42–57.
^J. Bergstrom & X. Hou (1997). Arthropods of the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Fauna, Southwest China. Fossils and Strata 45. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN978-82-00-37693-4.
^ abXiang-Hong Feng, Xian-guang Hou (2008). The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China: The Flowering of Early Animal Life. John Wiley & Sons. p. 176. ISBN978-0-470-99994-3.
^ abHou; Williams; Gabbott; Siveter; Siveter; Cong (2017). "A new species of Acanthomeridion". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 15 (9): 733–740. doi:10.1080/14772019.2016.1229695. hdl:2381/41202. S2CID 3430086.
This prehistoric arthropod-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
acanthomeridion, extinct, arthropod, found, chengjiang, fauna, deposits, china, 1997, placed, monotypic, family, acanthomeridiidae, known, from, eight, specimens, found, china, temporal, range, cambrian, stage, preꞒ, restoration, serratumscientific, classifica. Acanthomeridion is an extinct arthropod found in the Chengjiang fauna deposits of China 3 In 1997 it was placed in its own monotypic family Acanthomeridiidae 4 It is known from eight specimens all found in China 5 AcanthomeridionTemporal range Cambrian Stage 3 518 Ma 1 PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Restoration of A serratumScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass ArtiopodaFamily AcanthomeridiidaeHou amp Bergstrom 1997Genus AcanthomeridionHou Chen amp Lu 1989Type speciesAcanthomeridion serratumHou Chen amp Lu 1989Other speciesAcanthomeridion anacanthus Hou et al 2016 2 Morphology EditAcanthomeridion was a 35 mm long animal with 11 segments ending in rear facing spines The head features free cheeks separated from the rest of the head by sutures This is analogous with trilobites Otherwise affinities are mainly unclear 5 More recently discovered specimens of the species Acanthomeridion anacanthus have paired gut diverticula as have been seen in artiopods 6 No fossils exposing the limbs have yet been found but they are thought to be biramous with the upper section of the limb holding the gills As limbs have not been found it is uncertain whether Acanthomeridion was a seafloor dweller or a swimmer The streamlining suggests that it swam but is inconclusive Taxonomy EditAcanthomeridion is considered a primitive member of Artiopoda Some studies have put it as having affinities with petalopleurans or xandarellids but a more recent study by Hou Williams et al including the more recently discovered specimens suggest that it is the most basal member of the clade 6 References Edit Yang C Li X H Zhu M Condon D J Chen J 2018 Geochronological constraint on the Cambrian Chengjiang biota South China PDF Journal of the Geological Society 175 4 659 666 Bibcode 2018JGSoc 175 659Y doi 10 1144 jgs2017 103 ISSN 0016 7649 S2CID 135091168 Xianguang Hou Mark Williams Sarah Gabbott David J Siveter Derek J Siveter Peiyun Cong Xiaoya Ma Robert Sansom 2016 A new species of the artiopodan arthropod Acanthomeridion from the lower Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstatte China and the phylogenetic significance of the genus Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 15 9 733 740 doi 10 1080 14772019 2016 1229695 hdl 2381 41202 S2CID 3430086 X G Hou J Y Chen amp H Z Lu 1989 Early Cambrian new arthropods from Chengjiang Yunnan Acta Palaeontologica Sinica 28 42 57 J Bergstrom amp X Hou 1997 Arthropods of the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Fauna Southwest China Fossils and Strata 45 Wiley Blackwell ISBN 978 82 00 37693 4 a b Xiang Hong Feng Xian guang Hou 2008 The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang China The Flowering of Early Animal Life John Wiley amp Sons p 176 ISBN 978 0 470 99994 3 a b Hou Williams Gabbott Siveter Siveter Cong 2017 A new species of Acanthomeridion Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 15 9 733 740 doi 10 1080 14772019 2016 1229695 hdl 2381 41202 S2CID 3430086 This prehistoric arthropod related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Acanthomeridion amp oldid 1138622288, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
