Abstract
Facivermis yunnanicus (Hou & Chen, 1989), from the Early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte, a worm-like fossil with 5 pairs of tentacles and a perceived shrunken end, has been regarded as related to polychaetes, later it has been variously interpreted as lobopods, Pentastoma and lophophorates. Newly discovered complete specimens by the ELI field team show that the taxon has, in addition to the 5 pairs of appendages, a pear-shaped trunk end bearing two or three circles of hooks. Accordingly, based on these important morphological characters, reconsideration of its affinities is provided and the taxonomy is remedied herein. Because the five pairs of appendages of Facivermis yunnanicus resemble the appendages of the fore-trunk of lobopod Miraluolishania (Liu & Shu, 2004), it seems that they are homologous structures. Therefore, the affinities of Facivermis are regarded here as being close to the lobopods, in addition, the lobe-like appendages of Facivermis are very crucial to exploring the origin of the appendages of lobopods and arthropods.
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Liu, J., Han, J., Simonettaa, M. et al. New observations of the lobopod-like worm Facivermis from the early cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte. CHINESE SCI BULL 51, 358–363 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-0358-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-0358-3