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New reconstruction of the Wiwaxia scleritome, with data from Chengjiang juveniles

Zhang, Z.; Smith, M.R.; Shu, D.

New reconstruction of the Wiwaxia scleritome, with data from Chengjiang juveniles Thumbnail


Authors

Z. Zhang

D. Shu



Abstract

Wiwaxiids are a problematic group of scale-covered lophotrochozoans known from Cambrian Stages 3–5. Their imbricating dorsal scleritome of leaf-like scales has prompted comparison with various annelids and molluscs, and has been used as a template to reconstruct the articulation pattern of isolated Small Shelly Fossils. The first articulated specimens of Wiwaxia from the Cambrian Stage 3 Chengjiang Konservat-Lagerstätte show that the Wiwaxia scleritome comprised nine equivalent transverse rows associated with outgrowths of soft tissue, but did not possess a separate zone of anterior sclerites. This serial construction is fundamentally incompatible with the circumferential disposition of sclerites in early molluscs, but does closely resemble the armature of certain annelids. A deep homology with the annelid scleritome must be reconciled with Wiwaxia’s mollusc-like mouthparts and foot; together these point to a deep phylogenetic position, close to the common ancestor of annelids and molluscs.

Citation

Zhang, Z., Smith, M., & Shu, D. (2015). New reconstruction of the Wiwaxia scleritome, with data from Chengjiang juveniles. Scientific Reports, 5, Article 14810. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14810

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 9, 2015
Publication Date Oct 7, 2015
Deposit Date Oct 7, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Scientific Reports
Publisher Nature Research
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 5
Article Number 14810
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14810

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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/




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