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Vinn et al., 2025m

The first record of a possible 'priapulid' from the lower Cambrian (Series 2) of Estonia

Vinn, O., El Hedeny, M., Almansour, M. I., Alfarraj, S., Toom, U.
DOI
DOI10.2110/carnets.2025.2508
Year2025
JournalCarnets de Géologie
Volume25
Number8
Pages169-175
Typearticle in journal
Estonian author
LanguageEnglish
Id51795

Abstract

The Yunnanpriapulus? sp. can be divided into three distinct parts: an anterior introvert, a slightly constricted elongated neck, and a slightly bulbous elongated posterior trunk. The fossil is preserved as a three-dimensional cast in the fine-grained sandstone and is oriented parallel to the bedding plane. Rapid burial helped protect the organism from scavengers and decay and provided the opportunity for fossilization via pyritization. The preservation of the specimen on a bedding plane resulted from the post-mortem transportation of the dead animal, likely due to a storm event. The priapulid likely hunted other worms for food. The similarity of the Estonian specimen to the Chinese species suggests that there may have been some faunal exchange between the remote continents of Baltica and South China in the early Cambrian.

Remarks

Published online in final form (pdf) on June 2, 2025
Last change: 22.8.2025
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