This article lists the fauna of the Guanshan Biota.
The Guanshan Biota is a collection of organisms from Cambrian China within the Wulongqing Formation, dating to near the beginning of Cambrian Stage 4. It is distinguished by its shallow depositional environment and large quantities of brachiopods.
Ecdysozoa
Scalidophora Genus Species Material Notes ImagesGuanduscolex G. minorSeveral specimensDigestive tract preservedPalaeoscolex P. xinglongensisTwo incomplete specimens Also similar to SahascolexMafangscolex M. cf. yunnanensis3 fragmentary specimensUnclear whether it belongs to this species due to lack of preserved mouthpartsYunnanoscolex Y. magnusAround 50 specimens, most fragmentaryUnusually large for palaeoscolecidsWudingscolex W. sapushanensisTwo specimensSimilar to YunnanoscolexParamaotianshania P. zijunia15 specimens, 3 with introverts preservedDifferentiated from Maotianshania by hair-like protrusions and a larger sizeCorynetis C. fortisOver 100 specimens, around 10 being well-preservedHas an unusual looped intestineXiaoheiqingella X. spOne specimenLikely a new species, however the lack of specimens means no name has been providedEximipriapulus? ?E. spFour specimensSpecimens all found inside hyolith shells, suggesting a "hermiting" lifestyle for the genus.
Panarthropoda Genus Species Material Notes ImagesGuanshancaris G. kunmingensisMultiple frontal appendages and oral conesAn amplectobeluid radiodont, formerly placed within Anomalocaris.Paranomalocaris P. simplex P. multisegmentalisMultiple frontal appendagesUnusually similar to the frontal appendages of Kylinxia, possibly a relativeAstutuscaris A. bispiniferOne mostly complete specimenPlacement within Arthropoda uncertain, no limbs other than frontal appendages preservedHallucigenia H. fortis H. hongmeia H. sparsaDozens of isolated sclerites, a few complete specimensOne of the most widely distributed lobopodians Guangweicaris G. spinatusOver 150 specimensMost recent known fuxianhuiidLeanchoilia L. ilecebrosaSeveral specimensAlso known from the Maotianshan ShalesTuzoia T. sinensis T. ?retifera T. tylodensaMultiple carapacesKnown from all around the worldIsoxys I. wudingensis I. minorMultiple carapacesWide distribution, one of the most common Cambrian arthropods globallyLongquania L. spinosaSeveral partial specimensPossibly within TrilobitomorphaBranchiocaris B. yiliangensisSeveral specimensOne of several species from ChinaLiangshanella L. liangshanensis L. yunnanensisMultiple carapacesAlso known from the Burgess ShaleHoulongdongella H. disulcataMultiple carapacesNeokunmingella N. minutaMultiple carapacesWaptia W. spSeveral partial specimensMainly known from the Burgess ShaleParapeytoia P. spSeveral appendagesOriginally classed as a radiodont
Artiopoda Genus Species Material Notes ImagesSinoburius S. spWell-preserved specimensMainly known from the Maotianshan ShalesPanlongia P. tetranodusaMultiple specimensAssigned to Nektaspida in 2024Redlichia R. mansuyi R. yunnanensis R. noetlingi R. mai R. chinensis R. kaiyangensisHundreds of fossilsMost diverse genus in the Guanshan Biota, R. mansuyi specimens preserve gut structuresPalaeolenus P. lantenoisi P. douvilleiHundreds of fossilsMultiple specimens preserve gut structuresMegapalaeolenus M. depratiEight specimensMerged into Palaeolenus multiple timesYuehsienszella Y. szechuanensisMultiple specimens Found in various other formations in AsiaKootenia K. spMainly known from the Burgess ShaleBreviredlichia B. spMultiple specimensHas very large genal spinesNaraoiidae indet.Unapplicable3 specimensSimilar to both naraoiids and EmucarisSidneyidae indet.UnapplicableOne nearly complete specimenDiffering tail fan and tergite shapes distinguish it from SidneyiaBailongia B. longicaudataOne complete specimenUnclear position within Artiopoda
Spiralia Genus Species Material Notes ImagesBryozoa indet?UnapplicableOne specimenPossible bryozoan, earliest record of such if it is one.Gaoloufangchaeta G. bifurcusOne mostly complete specimenEarliest member of Errantia knownGuanshanchaeta G. feliciaOne specimenFirst annelid from Cambrian China found
Brachiopoda Genus Species Material Notes ImagesLinevitus L. malongensisSeveral specimensSome specimens preserve helensHeliomedusa H. minutaSeveral specimensSoft tissues such as the lophophore are preserved.Diandongia D. pistaOver 200 specimensLikely epifaunal due to its very long pedicle.Acanthotretella A. decaiusAround 15 specimensLikely epifaunal similar to Diandongia above.Eoobolus E. malongensisAround 700 specimensFormerly placed within LingulellotretaNisusia N. sp6 specimensA very rare calcareous brachiopodKutorgina K. sp8 specimensA very rare calcareous brachiopodNeobolus N. wulongqingensisThousands of specimensSome fossils preserve unusual tubes, which are likely parasitesWestonia W. spOver 500 specimensMost common in the higher assemblages of the biotaLinnarssonia L. spAround 60 specimensRarest non-calcareous brachiopod in the Guanshan BiotaSchizopholis S. spMultiple specimensPalaeobolus P. spMultiple specimensClosely related to lingulidsAcrothele A. raraMultiple specimens
Deuterostomia Genus Species Material Notes ImagesVetulicola V. gangtoucunensis V. longbaoshanensisHundreds of specimensThe two recorded species may be synonymous with each other.Wudingeocrinus W. rarusSeveral specimensSimilar to a genus from the Balang faunaKunmingeocrinus K. cupuliformisTwo specimensPossibly weakly biomineralisedPhlogites P. spSeveral specimensPossibly synonymous with Cheungkongella?Eldonioidea indet.UnapplicableOver 30 specimensPossibly within Rotadiscidae
Enigmatic/Miscellaneous Genus Species Material Notes ImagesDinomischidae indet?UnapplicableOne specimenClosely resembles Xianguangia, may instead be a cnidarianAllonnia A. tenuisHundreds of specimensMember of Chancelloriidae, possibly sponge relatives?Sinoflabrum S. antiquumSeveral specimensSimilar to both Ediacaran biota and spongesGuangweia G. cheni30 specimens, 10 well-preservedSimilar in form to the Ediacaran biotaNidelric N. gaoloufangensisMultiple spinesAn enigmatic animal, possibly related to the chancelloriids
Porifera Genus Species Material Notes ImagesCrumillospongia C. biporosaSeveral specimensKnown from multiple sites around the world.Choia C. sp.Several specimensKnown from multiple sites such as the Burgess Shale.Paraleptomitella P. sp.Many specimensThe most common sponge in the Guanshan Biota.Archaeocyatha indet?UnapplicableTwo specimensUnusually similar to vauxiid sponges, suggesting a relationship between the two
Cnidaria Genus Species Material Notes ImagesSphenothallus S. sp.Many specimensPossibly a conulariid.Gangtoucunia G. asperaAround 80 specimensIdentified as a cnidarian in 2022.
See also List of Xiaoshiba Biota species Paleobiota of the Maotianshan Shales
References