New Cambrian taxon links velvet worms to arthropods

Updated June 26, 2024
Thanks to a kind reader for pointing out that this sessile velvet worm relative tapered to the anterior, the opposite of the mobile flatworms and their relatives I was more familiar with. Apologies for the error, here corrected.

Corrections:
A more parsimonious Bauplan for Entothyreos can be found in Collinsovermis monstruosus (Fig 1) which is also a sessile filter feeder that clings to substrate.

Readers: Corrections will always be made.
Suggestions that include similar Bauplans are appreciated.

Entothyreos synnaustrus compared to the earlier depiction of Collinsovermis described in 2020.

Entothyreos synnaustrus compared to the earlier depiction of Collinsovermis described in 2020.

Aria and Caron 2024 reported,
“Defining the megaphylum Arthropoda, the arthrodization of appendages, or arthropodization, likely predated that of the body, the combination of both being diagnostic of true arthropods (Euarthropoda) – all of these innovations occurring during the Cambrian explosion. Here, thanks to dozens of exceptionally preserved fossils from the Cambrian Wuliuan Stage Burgess Shale (Tulip Beds locality on Mount Stephen, British Columbia, Canada), we show that a distinct but comparable system of imbricated sclerotic elements evolved in the paraphyletic sister group of arthropods, the lobopodians.”

Lobopodians can include velvet worms, tardigrades and anomalocarids.
Clade definitions vary. This clade extends from the Cambrian to the present day.

Not going to spend much time on this topic.
The graphics (Figs 1–3) should be informative.

This has been yet another shallow dive into invertebrates.
We’ll get back to the vertebrates tomorrow.

References
Aria C and Caron J-B 2024. Deep origin of articulation strategies in panarthropods: evidence from a new luolishaniid lobopodian (Panarthropoda) from the Tulip Beds, Burgess Shale. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 22(1) online
wiki/Lobopodia
wiki/Arthropod

wiki/Collinsovermis

4 thoughts on “New Cambrian taxon links velvet worms to arthropods

    • Thank you for noticing. Corrections made to the labels inside the image. The caption and image itself remains unchanged. Phylogenetic bracketing indicates the broader end with the large appendages is the anterior, contra the description in the original paper.

      • Respectfully, you still do not know nearly enough about lobopodians to say this. This post is still entirely incorrect.

      • Entothyreos seems to have a sister taxa/similar Bauplan in Collinsovermis_monstruosus. I hope the current changes are correct. I learned something today. Thank you, Christian.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.