Vetulocystis

Vetulocystis is an extinct genus of the family Vetulocystidae. It was found in the Maotianshan Shales, which date to roughly 518 mya.

Etymology

From the latin vetus (old), plus "cystidae" referencing the bag-like shape. The specific name is from the latin catena, meaning chain, as a pun on the fossil as a missing link.

Description

Vetulocystis is distinguished from Dianchicystis by a widening, rather than tapering, "tail" (posterior section). The posterior section appears to be divided into two. The anterior cone is pyramidal with over 50 articulated platelets. The posterior cone is pyramidal with many ribs.

Phylogeny

[citation needed]

Works cited

• Clausen, Sébastien; Hou, Xian-Guang; Bergström, Jan; Franzén, Christina (2010). . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 294 (3): 133–141. Bibcode:. doi:.
• Hou, Xian-guang; Siveter, David J.; Siveter, Derek J.; Aldridge, Richard J.; Cong, Pei-yun; Gabbott, Sarah; Ma, Xiao-ya; Purnell, Mark A.; Williams, Mark (2017). "Bilateria of Uncertain Affinity". The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China: The Flowering of Early Animal Life (2 ed.). pp. 264–271. doi:.
• Shu, Degan (October 2005). . Chinese Science Bulletin. 50: 2342–2354. doi:.
• Shu, D.-G.; Conway Morris, S.; Han, J.; Zhang, Z.-F.; Liu, J.-N. (2004). . Nature. 430 (6998): 422–428. Bibcode:. doi:. PMID . S2CID .