A New Platy‐armored Worm from the Early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte, South China

Abstract

Abstract The Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte provides a good window to explore the origin and radiation of early bilaterians. Here we describe a netted sclerite‐bearing worm Tabelliscolex hexagonus gen. et sp. nov., and tentatively assign it to palaeoscolecidans of priapulids. The cuticle of the animal is covered with two kinds of platy sclerites which are constructed by hexagonally arranged tubercles. Similar structures of the sclerites can be seen on some Cambrian palaeoscolecidans and lobopods, so, this new species is critical for understanding the relationships between lobopods and palaeoscolecidans.