Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

Geological Magazine

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by ZHANG, X.-G. Articles by BERGSTRÖM, J. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Early Cambrian priapulid worms buried with their lined burrows

XI-GUANG ZHANG^*,, XIAN-GUANG HOU^* and JAN BERGSTRÖM

^* Key Laboratory for Paleobiology, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden

Author for correspondence: xiguang.zhang{at}hotmail.com

Five specimens of the priapulid Maotianshania cylindrica preserved inside their lined burrows were described from the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang deposits near Kunming, southern China. The exceptional preservation suggests that this worm made a dwelling tube by lining within the uppermost sediment layers. This seems to be unique among priapulids in comparison with the Cambrian Selkirkia and Paraselkirkia, as well as some modern priapulid larvae and loriciferans. Taphonomic evidence indicates that the burrow-and-worm specimens are not buried in situ but were moved by storm, tsunami, or turbidity generated currents that are thought to have brought sedimentary material intermittently.

Key Words: priapulids • lined burrow • behaviour • taphonomy • early Cambrian

This article has been cited by other articles:

				X.-G. ZHANG and X.-G. HOU GRAVITATIONAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE BURIAL OF CHENGJIANG FOSSILS Palaios, July 1, 2007; 22(4): 448 - 453. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]