New Cambrian Discovery: Fulu Biota

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Peng, S.C., Yang, X.F., Liu, Y., Zhu, X.J., Sun, H.J., Zamora, S., Mao, Y.Y., Zhang, Y.C. 2020

Fulu Biota, A New Exceptionally-Preserved Cambrian Fossil Assemblage from the Longha Formation in Southeastern Yunnan.

Palaeoworld (in press publication) doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2020.02.001

 

Abstract:

A new exceptionally-preserved Cambrian biota, with fossils belonging to multiple phyla, has recently been found from the middle part of the Longha Formation, near Fulu Village, southeastern Yunnan, South China, and is named the Fulu biota. Groups recovered so far include polymerid trilobites, agnostoids, large bivalved arthropods, bradoriid arthropods, echinoderms, brachiopods, priapulids (worms), hyoliths, macroscopic algae, and trace fossils. The arthropods dominate the biota and are highly diverse with echinoderms second in diversity. The associated agnostoids provide a precise late Guzhangian Age (late Miaolingian Epoch) for the biota, indicating that the biota occurs stratigraphically about halfway between the occurrences of the Kaili and the Guole biotas of South China, from both of which the new Fulu biota differs significantly in faunal components. Guzhangian biotas preserving poorly mineralized tissues and complete echinoderms have been previously unknown in Gondwana until now; thus, the discovery of Fulu biota provides a unique window into life at this critical time interval.

 

 

Figure 3. Polymerid trilobites and agnostoid arthropods from the Fulu biota, southeastern Yunnan, South China. All in dorsal view; all scale bars = 2 mm. (A) Bergeronites sp., external mould of exoskeleton, NIGP 171327. (B) Palaeadotes hunanensis (Yang in Zhou et al., 1977), early holaspid exoskeleton, NIGP 171328. (C) Damesops sp., exoskeleton, NIGP 171329. (D) Teinistion sp., exoskeleton, NIGP 171330. (E) A new damesellid genus and species, exoskeleton, NIGP 171331. (F) Torifera sp., exoskeleton, NIGP 171332. (G) Shumadiid gen. et sp., external mould of exoskeleton, NIGP 171333. (H) An agnostoid exoskeleton assigned tentatively to Agnostus sp., NIGP 171334. (I) Kormagnostus minutus (Schrank, 1975), exoskeleton, NIGP 171335. (J) Clavagnostus spinosus (Resser, 1938), cephalon, NIGP 171336. (K) Hadragnostus modestus (Lochman in Lochman and Duncan, 1944), external mould of exoskeleton, retrodeformation showing inferred strain ellipse, NIGP 171337. (L, M) Ammagnostus wangcunensis, cephalon and pygidium, NIGP 171338, 171339. (N) Paracoosia asiatica (Mansuy, 1916), exoskeleton, NIGP 171340. (O) Liostracina sp., external mould of exoskeleton, NIGP 171341.

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Figure 4. Echinoderm, macroalgae, brachiopod, bivalve, large bivalved arthropod, bradoriid, worm, hyolith, and trace fossil from the Fulu biota, southeastern Yunnan, South China. All scale bars = 2 mm. (A, E) Cothurnocystid gen. and sp. undetermined, NIGP 171342, 171343. (B) Eocrinoid gen. and sp. undetermined, NIGP 171344. (C) Spiny eocrinoid gen. and sp. undetermined, NIGP 171345. (D) Primitive mitrocystitid mitrate, NIGP 171346. (F) Dibrachicystid? gen. and sp. undetermined, NIGP 171347. (G) Doushantuophyton sp., NIGP 171348. (H) Lingulella sp., plan view of pedicle valve external, NIGP 171349. (I) Obolid gen. and sp. undetermined, plan view of dorsal valve external, NIGP 171350. (J) Othriid? gen. and sp.  undetermined, plan view of dorsal valve external, NIGP 171351. (K) Canadaspis sp., lateral view, NIGP 171352. (L) Anabarochilina australis (Hinz-Schallreuter, 1993), complete carapace in lateral view, NIGP 171353. (M) Palaeoscolecid gen. and sp. undetermined, NIGP 171354. (N) Hyolithid gen. and sp. undetermined, NIGP 171355. (O) Trace fossil, igen. and isp. undetermined, NIGP 171736.