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 (Superphyum
Lophotrochozoa).
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