Microbial decay analysis challenges interpretation of putative organ systems in Cambrian fuxianhuiids.

ABSTRACT: The Chengjiang fossil Lagerstätte (Cambrian Stage 3) from Yunnan, southern China is renowned for its soft-tissue preservation. Accordingly structures in fuxianhuiids, radiodontans and great appendage arthropods have been interpreted as the nervous and cardiovascular systems, including brains, hearts and blood vessels. That such delicate organ systems survive the fossilization process seems remarkable; given that this mode of preservation involves major taphonomic changes, such as flattening, microbial degradation, chemical alteration and replacement. Here, we document a range of taphonomic preservation states in numerous articulated individuals of Fuxianhuia protensa We suggest that organic (partly iron mineral-replaced) bulbous structures in the head region, previously interpreted as brai

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5904315 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature