Description
Cardiodictyon catenulum
Chengjiang
Early Cambrian Eoredlichia Zone
Yu’ anshan Mbr., Qiongzhusi Formation
Chengjiang, China
Very fine 8mm lobopod on 71mm slab. Great detail
Cardiodictyon is a genus of extinct multi-legged animal known only from Chengjiang. It has been informally called a lobopod or a “worm with legs” – more technically a lobopodian, a group that has been interpreted as relatives of a few phyla. It’s not an arthropod because it doesn’t have a segmented body It appears to be related to the ancestors of onychophorans represented today by “velvet worms.” Yeah, it’s weird.
