Haikouella lanceolata Chen, Huang & Li, 1999

Haikouella lanceolata Chen, Huang & Li, 1999

Lower Cambrian

MaotianShan Formation

Chengjiang

Provinz Yunnan

PR China

Length 4,1cm / 1.6"

Not 100% sure what it is - could be either a rare Yunnanozoon lividum Hou, Ramsköld & Bergström, 1991, a Hemichordate or - more likely Haikouella lanceolata Chen, Huang & Li, 1999, a Chordate. Even Haikouichthys ercaicunensis Shu, Conway Morris, Han & Zhang, a primitive fish, is still a posibility.

Reconstruction of Haikouella (from Wikipedia, March 2015)

Reconstruction of Haikouichthys (from Wikipedia. March 2015)

Fossil under UV light:

Lit.:

Degan Shu, et al. A New Species of Yunnanozoan with Implications for Deuterostome Evolution. Science 299, 1380 (2003)

World heritage nomination: Chengjiang Fossil Site