A new hurdiid radiodont from the Burgess Shale evinces the exploitation of Cambrian infaunal food sources.

ABSTRACT: Radiodonts, a clade of Cambro-Devonian stem group euarthropods, have classically been regarded as nektonic apex predators. However, many aspects of radiodont morphology and ecology have remained unclear because of the typically fragmentary nature of fossil material. Here, we describe a new hurdiid radiodont based on abundant and exceptionally well-preserved fossils from the Burgess Shale (Marble Canyon area, British Columbia, Canada). Cambroraster falcatus gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by an extra-large horseshoe-shaped head carapace, bearing conspicuous posterolateral spinous processes, and partially covering a short trunk with eight pairs of lateral flaps. Each of the pair of frontal appendages possess five mesially curving rake-like endites equipped with a series of anteriorly direc

SUBMITTER: Moysiuk J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6710600 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature