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An armoured Cambrian lobopodian from China with arthropod-like appendages

Author

Listed:
  • Jianni Liu

    (Early Life Institute, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University
    Freie Universität Berlin)

  • Michael Steiner

    (Freie Universität Berlin)

  • Jason A. Dunlop

    (Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity at the Humboldt University Berlin)

  • Helmut Keupp

    (Freie Universität Berlin)

  • Degan Shu

    (Early Life Institute, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University
    School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences)

  • Qiang Ou

    (School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences)

  • Jian Han

    (Early Life Institute, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University)

  • Zhifei Zhang

    (Early Life Institute, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University)

  • Xingliang Zhang

    (Early Life Institute, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University)

Abstract

A 'walking cactus' related to modern arthropods Jointed limbs in arthropods are a key innovation that facilitated the evolution of the world's most species-rich animal group. Their ancestors may lie among a group of extinct animals called lobopodians, which looked rather like worms with legs. A newly discovered 520-million-year-old fossil lobopodian from China may be the closest known fossil relative of modern arthropods. A thin worm-like animal, Diania cactiformis is named to reflect its 'walking cactus' appearance. The possession of what seem to be the beginnings of robust, jointed and spiny legs suggest that this bizarre animal might be very close to the origins of the arthropods.

Suggested Citation

  • Jianni Liu & Michael Steiner & Jason A. Dunlop & Helmut Keupp & Degan Shu & Qiang Ou & Jian Han & Zhifei Zhang & Xingliang Zhang, 2011. "An armoured Cambrian lobopodian from China with arthropod-like appendages," Nature, Nature, vol. 470(7335), pages 526-530, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:470:y:2011:i:7335:d:10.1038_nature09704
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09704
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