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Cordaticaris
Genus of extinct stem-group arthropods / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cordaticaris[lower-alpha 1] (heart-shaped shrimp) is a genus of extinct hurdiid (peytoiid) radiodont (stem-group arthropod) that lived in what is now northern China during the middle Cambrian period (Miaolingian, Drumian). This animal was described in 2020 based on remains found in the Zhangxia Formation, located in the Shandong Province.[1] It is differentiated from other members of its family by its unique heart-shaped frontal sclerite (head carapace), and its frontal appendages bearing nine endites and seven more elongated subequal endites.[1] This animal was important as it was the first Miaolingian aged hurdiid known from rock layers outside of laurentia, allowing paleontologists to get a better grasp of this families geographic range in life.[1]
Cordaticaris | |
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Diagram of the head sclerites of C. striatus | |
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Life restoration of C. striatus (the trunk region is speculative, being based on a close relative, Cambroraster). | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | †Dinocaridida |
Order: | †Radiodonta |
Family: | †Hurdiidae |
Genus: | †Cordaticaris Sun, 2020 |
Type species | |
Cordaticaris striatus Sun, 2020 |
Hurdiids like Cordaticaris were the most diverse lineage of radiodonts, both in terms of geographic distribution, and ecological roles. They are differentiated from other radiodont groups by their large head sclerites, their tetraradial mouth-parts, and their appendages bearing around five subequal endites.[2] The diversity of hurdiid head sclerites is notable, with some genera like Aegirocassis and Hurdia possessing long, pointed sclerites.[3][4] While others like Cambroraster and Titanokorys possessed horseshoe-shaped sclerites.[5][6]