Description

Tuzoia sp.
Middle Cambrian
Marjum Formation
House Range, Millard County UT, USA

Excellent 56mm phyllocarid on 150mm slab

Branchiocaris is a genus of the Subclass Phyllocarida, a group of crustaceans known primarily from their bivalved carapaces.  It lived during the Middle Cambrian with its remains documented from North America and China. The best known Tuzoia finds have been in the Burgess Shale.

Phyllocarids, as a group, date back to the Early Cambrian with one order still living today.

See: The problematic Cambrian arthropod Tuzoia and the origin of mandibulates revisited (Opens in a new tab)