Scolecofurca Temporal range:
Burgess Shale | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Stem group: | Priapulida (?) |
Genus: | †
Scolecofurca Conway Morris, 1977 [1] |
Species: | †S. rara
|
Binomial name | |
†Scolecofurca rara Conway Morris, 1977
|
Scolecofurca is a genus of stem-group priapulid worm [2] dating from the Middle Cambrian period approximately 505 million years ago.
It is known from a single fossil specimen from the Raymond Quarry in the Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rockies. [1]
The only known species in the species Scolecofurca rara was first described by Conway Morris in 1977 as a possible primitive priapulid, but later shown to belong to the priapulid stem group. [3] Its name is derived from the Greek skolex (worm) and the Latin furca (fork) and rara (infrequent). [1]
Scolecofura's single fossil specimen is 6.5 centimeters in length. The fossil displays a proboscis of constant width, with two 3 millimeter tentacles at the anterior. The tentacles most likely would have functioned for sensory purposes rather than for feeding. The trunk of the organism is lined with annulations separated by 7 millimeters. The specimen is incomplete, and the posterior features of the animal are currently unknown. [1]
Scolecofurca Temporal range:
Burgess Shale | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Stem group: | Priapulida (?) |
Genus: | †
Scolecofurca Conway Morris, 1977 [1] |
Species: | †S. rara
|
Binomial name | |
†Scolecofurca rara Conway Morris, 1977
|
Scolecofurca is a genus of stem-group priapulid worm [2] dating from the Middle Cambrian period approximately 505 million years ago.
It is known from a single fossil specimen from the Raymond Quarry in the Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rockies. [1]
The only known species in the species Scolecofurca rara was first described by Conway Morris in 1977 as a possible primitive priapulid, but later shown to belong to the priapulid stem group. [3] Its name is derived from the Greek skolex (worm) and the Latin furca (fork) and rara (infrequent). [1]
Scolecofura's single fossil specimen is 6.5 centimeters in length. The fossil displays a proboscis of constant width, with two 3 millimeter tentacles at the anterior. The tentacles most likely would have functioned for sensory purposes rather than for feeding. The trunk of the organism is lined with annulations separated by 7 millimeters. The specimen is incomplete, and the posterior features of the animal are currently unknown. [1]