Lobopodians
are small, segmented animals of uncertain taxonomic placement
that have apparent affinity to both arthropods
and annelids,
and that have a fossil record limited to the early Cambrian. The
lobopods resemble Onychophorans,
or velvet worms, that are terrestrial worms with legs, and indeed
may be Onychophoran ancestors. A distinguishing characteristic
of Lobopodians is dorsal-lateral plates or sclerites. Six genera,
each with a single species, are described from the Chengjiang
Biota, making the Chengjiang Maotianshan shales the primary
source of Lobopod fossils. Aysheaia from the Burgess shale and
the strange Hallucigenia has some resemblance, as does Xenusion
from early Cambrian sandstones of eastern Europe that is known
from only two specimens; these animals are now placed in the onychophorans
(Superphlum Lophotrochozoa).
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