Cindarella eucalla, an Exceptionally Rare Chengjiang Arthropod

Description: This unusual arthropod is known as Cindarella eucalla. The species is known from very few compressed examples. The taxon is similar to Xandarella spectaculum, and as such is quite trilobite-like in appearance, but differs in the lack of a calcified exoskeleton and different eye morphology. The taxon is unknown outside the Chengjiang Biota. Cindarella is often included in an arthropod group named Xandarellidae, united by a prominent head shield, stalked, ventral eyes, and many dorsal tergites; many scientists consider them to be close relatives to trilobites. All of the xandarellids are known from Chengjiang, and none from the Burgess Shale.

Also see: Chengjiang Fossils