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Malongitubus: a possible pterobranch hemichordate from the early Cambrian of South China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2017

Shixue Hu ,
Bernd-D. Erdtmann ,
Michael Steiner ,
Yuandong Zhang ,
Fangchen Zhao ,
Zhiliang Zhang  and
Jian Han
Shixue Hu
Affiliation:
Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu, 610081, P.R. China 〈[email protected]〉
Bernd-D. Erdtmann
Affiliation:
Institut für Angewandte Geowissenschaften, Technische Universität Berlin, D-13355 Berlin, Germany 〈[email protected]〉
Michael Steiner
Affiliation:
Institut für Geowissenschaften, Freie Universität Berlin, D 12249, Berlin, Germany 〈[email protected]〉
Yuandong Zhang
Affiliation:
CAS Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, China 〈[email protected]〉, 〈[email protected]〉
Fangchen Zhao
Affiliation:
CAS Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, China 〈[email protected]〉, 〈[email protected]〉
Zhiliang Zhang
Affiliation:
Early Life Institute, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China, 〈[email protected]〉, 〈[email protected]〉
Jian Han
Affiliation:
Early Life Institute, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China, 〈[email protected]〉, 〈[email protected]〉
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Abstract

Malongitubus kuangshanensis Hu, 2005 from the early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte of China is redescribed as a pterobranch and provides the best evidence to demonstrate that hemichordates were present as early as Cambrian Stage 3. Interpretation of this taxon as a hemichordate is based on the morphology of the branched colony and the presence of resistant inner threads consistent with the remains of an internal stolon system. The presence of fusellar rings in the colonial tubes cannot be unambiguously proven for Malongitubus, probably due to early decay and later diagenetic replacement of the thin organic material of the tubarium, although weak annulations are still discernible in parts of the tubes. The description of M. kuangshanensis is revised according to new observations of previously reported specimens and recently collected additional new material. Malongitubus appears similar in most features to Dalyia racemata Walcott, 1919 from the Cambrian Stage 5 Burgess Shale, but can be distinguished by the existence of disc-like thickenings at the bases of tubarium branching points in the latter species. Both species occur in rare mass-occurrence layers with preserved fragmentary individuals of different decay stages, with stolon remains preserved as the most durable structures. Benthic pterobranchs may have occurred in some early Cambrian shallow marine communities in dense accumulations and provided firm substrates and shelter for other benthic metazoans as secondary tierers.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 92 , Special Issue 1: Cambrian Explosion , January 2018 , pp. 26 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © 2017, The Paleontological Society 

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