Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A redescription of the Middle Cambrian wormAmiskwia sagittiformis Walcott from the Burgess Shale of British Columbia

  • Published:
Paläontologische Zeitschrift Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Amiskwia sagittiformis Walcott is redescribed on the basis of the five available specimens. The dorsoventrally compressed body consists of a head bearing a pair of prominent tentacles and a trunk with lateral and caudal fins. A gut with subterminal openings, cerebral ganglia, nerve cords, blood vessels and muscles have been identified with varying degrees of confidence. An active pelagic mode of life is considered probable. The rejection by earlier workers of this worm from the arrow-worms (Chaetognatha) is confirmed, but their identification of it as a nemertean (Nemertea) cannot be supported owing to the absence of critical data. The systematic position ofA. sagittiformis remains unresolved.

Zusammenfassung

Amiskwia sagittiformis Walcott wird auf der Basis von fünf erhältlichen Exemplaren neu beschrieben. Der dorsoventralisch komprimierte Körper besteht aus einem Kopf mit einem Paar hervorstehender Fühler und einem Rumpf mit Seiten- und Schwanzflossen. Ein Darm mit subterminalen Dffnungen sowie Gehirnganglien, Nervenstränge, Blutgefäße und Muskeln konnten mit variierendem Sicherheitsgrad identifiziert werden. Eine aktive pelagische Lebensform wird als wahrscheinlich angenommen. Die Abgrenzung dieses Wurms von den Pfeilwürmern (Chaetognatha), die in früheren Arbeiten unternommen wurde, wird bestätigt, aber deren Klassifizierung als Nemertinen (Nemertea) kann aufgrund fehlender kritischer Daten nicht aufrechterhalten werden. Die systematische Einordnung derA. sagittiformis bleibt weiterhin ungelost.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature

  • Alvarino, A. (1965): Chaetognaths. — Oceanogr. mar. Biol. Ann. Rev.,3: 115–194; London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayer, F. M. &Owre, H. B. (1968): The free-living lower invertebrates. — 229 pp.; New York.

  • Beauchamp, P. de (1960): Classe des chétognathes. — In: Grasse, P.-P. [Ed.]: Traité de Zoologie,5 (2); 1500-1520; Paris.

  • Beklemischev, W. N. (1963): On the relationship of the Turbellaria to other groups of the animal kingdom. — In: Dougherty, E. C. [Ed. J: The lower Metazoa. Comparative biology and phylogeny, 234–244; Berkeley and Los Angeles.

  • - (1969): Principles of comparative anatomy of invertebrates. — 490 pp. (1), 529 pp. (2); Edinburgh. [Engl, transl. of 3rd (1964) Russ. ed.]

  • Brinkmann, A. (1917): Die pelagischen Nemertinen (monographisch dargestellt). — Bergens Mus. Skr.,3: 1–194; Bergen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burfield, S. T. (1927):Sagitta. — L. M. B. C. Mem. typ. Br. mar. PI. Anim.,28: 1–104; Liverpool.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, F. (1919): New or little-known Victorian fossils in the National Museum. Part 22: Palaeozoic worms; with evidence of soft parts. — Proc. roy. Soc. Vict.,31, N. S. (2): 315–324; Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coe, W. R. (1920): Sexual dimorphism in nemerteans. — Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole,39: 36–58; Woods Hole, Mass.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • — (1926): The pelagic nemerteans. — Mem. Mus. comp. Zool. Harv.,34: 1–244; Cambridge, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1927 a): Adaptations of the bathypelagic nemerteans. — Amer. Nat.,61: 345–352; Lancaster, Pa.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • — (1927 b): The nervous system of pelagic nemerteans. — Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole,53: 123–138; Woods Hole, Mass.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • — (1935): Bathypelagic nemerteans collected within a 25 mile circle near Bermuda. — Zool. Anz.,Ill: 315–317; Leipzig.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1936): Plankton of the Bermuda Oceanographic Expeditions. VI. Bathypelagic nemerteans taken in the years 1929, 1930 and 1931. — Zoologica, N.Y.,21: 97–113; New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1945): Plankton of the Bermuda Oceanographic Expeditions. XI. Bathypelagic nemerteans of the Bermuda area and other parts of the North and South Atlantic oceans, with evidence to their means of dispersal. — Zoologica, N.Y.,30: 145–168; New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1954): Bathypelagic nemerteans of the Pacific Ocean. — Bull. Scripps Inst, oceanogr. tech. ser.,6: 225–286; La Jolla, Calif.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coe, W. R. &Ball, S. C. (1920): The pelagic nemerteanNectonemertes. — J. Morph.,34: 457–485; Philadelphia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conway Morris, S. (1976 a): A new Cambrian lophophorate from the Burgess Shale of British Columbia. — Palaeontology,19: 199–222; London.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1976 b):Nectocaris pteryx, a new organism from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale of British Columbia. — N. Jb. Geol. Palaont. Mb..,1976 (12): 705–713; Stuttgart.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1977 a): A new metazoan from the Cambrian Burgess Shale of British Columbia. — Palaeontology,20: 623–640; London.

    Google Scholar 

  • (1977 b): Fossil priapulid worms. — Spec. Pap. Palaeontology,20: London.

  • Ehlers, E. (1869): Ober fossile Wurmer aus dem lithographischen Schiefer in Bayern. — Palae- ontographica,17: 145–175; Cassel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedotov, D. M. (1925): On the relations between the Crustacea, Trilobita, Merostomata and Arachnida. — Izv. ross. Akad. Nauk.,1924: 383–408; Petrograd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich, H. (1968):Sagaminemertes, eine bemerkenswerte neue Gattung der Hoplonemer- tinen und ihre systematische Stellung. — Zool. Anz.,180: 33–36; Leipzig.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1969):Pelagonemertes moseleyi Burger, 1895 undP. joubini Coe, 1926 im Atlantischen Ozean nebst Bemerkungen iiber die GattungPelagonemertes und Beschreibung einer neuen Art. — Veroff. Oberseemus. Bremen, Reihe A,4: 17–27; Bremen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritz, W. H. (1971): Geological setting of the Burgess Shale. — Symp. North Amer. Paleont. Conv. Chicago, 1969, Part I, 1155–1170; Lawrence, Kansas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gekker, R. F. (1964): Chaetognatha. — In: Orlov, Yu. A. [Ed.]: The Echinodermata, Hemichordata, Pogonophora, and Chaetognatha. Fundamentals of paleontology: 369-372; Moscow. — [in Russian]

  • Ghirardelli, E. (1963): I chetognati: affinita e posizione sistematica. — Monitore zool. ital.,70–71: 496–506; Firenze.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1968): Some aspects of the biology of the chaetognaths. — Adv. mar. Biol.,6: 271–375; London.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, R. (1972): Nemerteans. — 224 pp.; London.

  • Hantzschel, W. (1975): Supplement 1. Trace fossils and problematica. — In: Teichert, C. [Ed.]: Treatise on invertebrate paleontology, Part W, Miscellanea, Wl-W269; Lawrence, Kansas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell, B. F. (1958): Type species for the nemertean worm genus,Legnodesmus. — J. Paleont.,32: 247; Tulsa.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1962): Worms. — In:Moore, R. C. [Ed.]: Treatise on invertebrate paleontology, Part W, Miscellanea, W 144-W 177, Lawrence; Kansas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyman, L. H. (1951): The Invertebrates. Vol.2. Platyhelminthes and Rhynchocoela. The acoelomate Bilateria. — 550 pp.; New York.

  • — (1959): The Invertebrates. Vol. 5. Smaller coelomate groups. — 783 pp.; New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • John, C. C. (1933): Habits, structure, and development ofSpadella cephaloptera. — Q. J. microsc. Sci.,75: 625–696; London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korotkevich, V. S. (1955): Pelagic nemertines of the Far Eastern seas of the U.S.S.R. — Identification Key to fauna of the U.S.S.R.,58: 1–131; Moscow. — [in Russian]

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1961): A new nemertean species and its position in the System. — Zool. Zh.,40: 1416

    Google Scholar 

  • --- 1420; Moscow. [Russ., with Engl, summary]

  • Korotkevich, V. S. (1962): New facts relating to the problem of the origin of pelagic nemertines. — Dokl. (Proc.) Acad. Sci. U.S.S.R. Bio. sci. sect.,144: 640–641; New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1967): Systematic position ofAmiskwia sagittiformis from Middle Cambrian of Canada. — Paleont. J.,1967 (4): 115–118; Falls Church, Virginia. [AGI transl. of Paleont. Zh.]

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhl, W. (1938): Chaetognatha. — Bronn's Kl. Ordn. Tierreichs, 4, Abt. IV, 2.Buch, Teil 1, 1–226; Leipzig.

  • MacLeay, W. S. (1839): Note on the Annelida. — In: Murchison, R. I. [Ed.]: The Silurian System: 699–702; London.

  • McIlreath, I. A. (1974) Stratigraphic relationships at the western edge of the Middle Cambrian carbonate facies belt, Field, British Columbia. — Geol. Surv. Pap. Canad.,74–1, (A): 333–334; Ottawa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meek, A. (1928): OnSagitta elegans andSagitta setosa from the Northumbrian plankton, with a note on a trematode parasite. — Proc. zool. Soc. Lond.,1928 (2): 743–776; London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munster, G. G. zu (1842): Über einige neue fossile schalenlose Cephalopoden und eine neue Gattung Ringelwürmer (Anneliden). — Beitr. Petrefactenkunde,5: 95–99; Bayreuth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murchison, R. I. (1839): The Silurian System. — 768 pp.; London.

  • Owre, H. B. &Bayer, F. M. (1962): The systematic position of the Middle Cambrian fossilAmiskwia Walcott. — J. Paleont.,36: 1361–1363; Tulsa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper, D. J. W. (1972): Sediments of the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale, Canada. — Lethaia,5: 169–175; Oslo.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raymond, P. E. (1920): The appendages, anatomy, and relationships of trilobites. — Mem. Conn. Acad. Arts Sci.,7: 1–169; New Haven, Conn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roger, J. (1952): Classe des chétognathes. In: Piveteau, J. [Ed.]: Traité de Paléontologie, 2: 161; Paris.

  • --- (1959):Annélides fossiles. In:Grassé, P.-P. [Ed.]: Traité de Zoologie,5 (1); 687–713; Paris.

  • --- (1960): Chétognates fossiles. In:Grasse, P.-P. [Ed.]: Traite de Zoologie,5 (2): 1520; Paris.

  • Schram, F. R. (1973): Pseudocoelomates and a nemertine from the Illinois Pennsylvanian. — J. Paleont.,47: 985–989; Tulsa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seddon, G. &Sweet, W. C. (1971): An ecologic model for conodonts. — J. Paleont.,45: 869–880; Tulsa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sedgwick, A. &McCoy, F. (1854): A synopsis of the classification of the British Palaeozoic rocks, with a systematic description of the British Palaeozoic fossils in the Geological Museum of the University of Cambridge. — 661 pp.; Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, J. M. (1947): The Chaetognatha of South-eastern Australia. — Bull. Coun. sci. ind. Res., Melb.,222: 1–43; Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tokioka, T. (1965 a): The taxonomical outline of Chaetognatha. — Publ. Seto mar. biol. Lab.,12: 335–357; Sirahama.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1965 b): Supplementary notes on the systematics of Chaetognatha. — Publ. Seto mar. biol. Lab.,13: 231–242; Sirahama.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verrill, A. E. (1892): The marine nemerteans of New England and adjacent waters. — Trans. Conn. Acad. Arts Sci.,8: 382–456; New Haven, Conn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walcott, C. D. (1911): Middle Cambrian annelids. — Smithson. misc. Coll.,57: 109–144; Washington, D. C.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1912 a): Cambrian of the Kicking Horse Valley, B. C. — Rep. geol. Surv. Can.,26: 188–191; Ottawa.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1912 b): Middle Cambrian Branchiopoda, Malacostraca, Trilobita, and Merostomata. — Smithson. misc. Coll.57: 145–228; Washington, D. C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitfield, P. J. (1972): The ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of the hoplonemertine,Emplectonema neesii. — Z. Zellforsch. mikrosk. Anat.,128: 303–316; Berlin.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whittington, H. B. (1971 a): The Burgess Shale: History of research and preservation of fossils. — Symp. North Amer. Paleont. Conv. Chicago,1969, Part I: 1170–1201; Lawrence, Kanas.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1971b): Redescription ofMarrella splendens (Trilobitoidea) from the Burgess Shale, Middle Cambrian, British Columbia. — Bull. geol. Surv. Can.,209: 1–24; Ottawa.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sedgwick Museum, CB2 3EQ, Cambridge, England

    S. Conway Morris

Authors
  1. S. Conway Morris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Morris, S.C. A redescription of the Middle Cambrian wormAmiskwia sagittiformis Walcott from the Burgess Shale of British Columbia. Paläont. Z. 51, 271–287 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986576

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986576

Keywords

Search

Navigation