Tube-dwelling in early animals exemplified by Cambrian scalidophoran worms.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The radiation of ecdysozoans (moulting animals) during the Cambrian gave rise to panarthropods and various groups of worms including scalidophorans, which played an important role in the elaboration of early marine ecosystems. Although most scalidophorans were infaunal burrowers travelling through soft sediment at the bottom of the sea, Selkirkia lived inside a tube.

Results

We explore the palaeobiology of these tubicolous worms, and more generally the origin and evolutionary significance of tube-dwelling in early animals, based on exceptionally preserved fossils from the early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte (Stage 3, China) including a new species, Selkirkia transita sp. nov. We find that the best phylogenetic model resolves Selkirkia as a stem-group priapulid.

SUBMITTER: Wang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8588615 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature