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Habelia optata – The Cambrian arthropod with a ‘Jacknife’ head
Until recently, paleontologist have had difficulty deciding where the Habeliida taxa belonged on the tree of life. A recent re-description of the arthropod habelia optata places the Habeliida next to the Chelicerata. Horseshoe crabs, sea spiders, scorpions and spiders are all Chelicerates. Tree of life showing the relationship between Arthropods (Cedric Aria) For more information about the
Ancient, spiky-headed worm discovered at Burgess Shale
Long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, this bizarre creature swam the seas. The Capinatator didn’t have a face, but had 50 curved rigid spines that jutted out of its head. And when some unsuspecting critter came too close, those jaw-like spines snapped together and dinner was served. Click here to read the CBC’s
What’s so amazing about the Burgess Shale?
You can find out “what’s so amazing about the Burgess Shale” in the article that Crowfoot Media wrote about us here.
Remembering Murray Coppold
The passing of Murray Coppold was a shock to his friends and colleagues at the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation. He was a long-time contributor to the Foundation in various activities such as editor of our newsletter Marrella and the author of “A Geoscience Guide to the Burgess Shale”. I knew
Oldest fossilized embryos and oldest evidence of brood care
Paleontologists Jean-Bernard Caron and Jean Vannier have recently examined specimens of Wapta fieldensis and revealed a parent carrying eggs with preserved embryos. Read the media release by Earth Magazine here.