Data from: A new exceptionally preserved Cambrian priapulid from the Chengjiang Lagerstätte

A fossil priapulid, Eximipriapulus globocaudatus new genus new species, is described from the Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte of Yunnan, China. The exceptional preservation of the animal reveals morphological details that allow direct comparison with extant priapulids. The body is divisible into a partially eversible pharynx, a smooth collar, a scalid-bearing introvert, a neck with triangular scalids, an unsegmented trunk with annulations, and a distinctly expanded terminal region. Several specialized regions of the alimentary canal are recognized: a pharynx (lined by cuticle and bearing teeth), esophagus, midgut, hindgut, and a terminal anus. The sample includes a putative juvenile. The animal is inferred to have been an active burrower using a double-anchor strategy, practicing both deposit feeding and carnivory. Inclusion of Eximipriapulus in the most recent character matrix for cladistic analysis of fossil and Recent priapulids resolves the new genus within the priapulid crown group.

本研究描述了产自中国云南寒武纪澄江特异埋藏化石库（Chengjiang Lagerstätte）的化石曳鳃动物——球尾奇异曳鳃虫（Eximipriapulus globocaudatus）新属新种。该化石保存极为完好，其形态学细节清晰可辨，可直接与现生曳鳃动物进行比对。其躯体可划分为多个区域：部分可外翻的咽、光滑的领、覆有吻刺的翻吻、带有三角形吻刺的颈部、具环纹且不分节的躯干，以及明显膨大的末端区域。现已识别出消化道的多个特化区域：由角质层衬里且带有齿状结构的咽、食道、中肠、后肠以及末端的肛门。本次研究的标本中包含一件疑似幼体的样本。据推测，该物种为主动穴居生物，采用双锚策略进行掘穴，兼具沉积取食与肉食性两种摄食方式。将奇异曳鳃虫属（Eximipriapulus）纳入针对化石与现生曳鳃动物的最新支序分析性状矩阵后，该新属被归入曳鳃动物冠群之中。