Chuandianella ovata: An early Cambrian stem euarthropod with feather-like appendages
Article number: 25.1.a7
https://doi.org/10.26879/1172
Copyright Paleontological Society, February 2022
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Plain-language and multi-lingual abstracts
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Submission: 2 June 2021. Acceptance: 4 February 2022.
ABSTRACT
Micro-CT scanning reveals unprecedented three-dimensional soft anatomy of the early Cambrian (Epoch 2, Age 3) euarthropod Chuandianella ovata. We interpret the presence of an elongate, antenniform first appendage, and a short uniramous second appendage, followed by 10 homonomous biramous appendages comprising a short paddle-shaped exopod and a unique feather-like limb-branch with at least 27 podomeres each of which bears a long blade-like endite with a short terminal seta: we interpret this as the endopod. Alternative interpretations, that these limbs might represent an epipod+basipod or epipod+exopod arrangement, are unlikely, in that they would require either the complete reduction of the exopod or the endopod. We also find no evidence for head appendage morphologies that would support a more crownward position, for example among pancrustaceans, that has previously been suggested for C. ovata.
Dayou Zhai. Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, Institute of Palaeontology, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China and MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China. dyzhai@ynu.edu.cn
Mark Williams. Centre for Palaeobiology Research, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK and MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China. mri@leicester.ac.uk
David J. Siveter. Centre for Palaeobiology Research, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK and MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China. djs@leicester.ac.uk
Derek J. Siveter. Earth Collections, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW, UK and Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK and MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China. derek.siveter@oum.ox.ac.uk
Thomas H.P. Harvey. Centre for Palaeobiology Research, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK and MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China. thph2@leicester.ac.uk
Robert S. Sansom. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PT, UK. robert.sansom@manchester.ac.uk
Huijuan Mai. Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, Institute of Palaeontology, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China and MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China. 20179015@ynu.edu.cn
Runqing Zhou. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029 Beijing, China. r.zhou@mail.iggcas.ac.cn
Xianguang Hou. Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, Institute of Palaeontology, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China and MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China. xghou@ynu.edu.cn
Keywords: Chengjiang biota; Cambrian; bivalved arthropod; soft-anatomy; micro-CT; palaeoecology
Final citation: Zhai, Dayou, Williams, Mark, Siveter, David J., Siveter, Derek J., Harvey, Thomas H.P., Sansom, Robert S., Mai, Huijuan, Zhou, Runqing, and Hou, Xianguang. 2022. Chuandianella ovata: An early Cambrian stem euarthropod with feather-like appendages. Palaeontologia Electronica, 25(1):a7. https://doi.org/10.26879/1172
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Copyright: February 2022 Paleontological Society.
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INTRODUCTION
During the Cambrian Period bivalved arthropods, such as Chuandianella, formed a numerically abundant and widespread component of marine ecosystems in benthic, nektobenthic, and pelagic settings (e.g., Williams et al., 2007; 2015; Stein et al., 2010; Vannier et al., 2018; Zhai et al., 2019a, 2019b). They are among the most abundant animals in the Chengjiang (Zhao et al., 2012; Hou et al., 2017) and Burgess Shale lagerstätten (Briggs et al., 1994; Caron and Jackson, 2008). Many of these arthropods are species that had been assigned to Bradoriida Raymond, 1935 (see, e.g., Hou et al., 2002) a group common worldwide and with very rare exceptions known only from their bivalved carapaces (Williams et al., 2007). Where bradoriids preserve soft-part anatomy, in many cases conventional classifications based on carapace morphology break down. The markedly different arthropod body plans revealed beneath the bivalved carapace include stem euarthropods (Zhai et al., 2019a), and mandibulates (Aria and Caron, 2017; Vannier et al., 2018) including stem pancrustaceans (Zhai et al., 2019b).
Recent Micro-CT scanning of fossil arthropods has in many cases revolutionised our approach to Cambrian fossil observation and improved access to fine morphological details. This is particularly apparent in the study of the early Cambrian (Epoch 2, Age 3) Chengjiang biota arthropods of China (e.g., Liu et al., 2020), which preserve components of their original three-dimensional soft anatomy including fine details of appendages (e.g., Zhai et al., 2019a, 2019b; Liu et al., 2020). Here we describe newly micro-CT analysed specimens of the Chengjiang bivalved arthropod Chuandianella ovata (Li, 1975), which reveal unprecedented anatomical detail. We undertake a detailed morphological analysis of this new material of C. ovata, especially of its appendages, comment on its affinities, and briefly discuss its palaeoecology.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
New specimens of Chuandianella ovata were collected from the Yu’anshan Member, Chiungchussu Formation, Eoredlichia-Wutingaspis trilobite biozone, Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3, Yunnan Province (see Hou et al., 2017), at Mafang, Ercaicun and Jianshan in Haikou, Kunming (Appendix 1). Fourteen specimens, which revealed appendage morphology in high fidelity, were selected for detailed study. Specimens are mainly housed in the Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology (YKLP), Yunnan University, Kunming, and in the Yunnan Geological Survey (Hz-f-4-777, He-f-6-4-294).
Fossil structures exposed on the surface of the rock slabs were imaged with a Nikon D3X camera with an Af-S VR105 macro lens and a Keyence VHX6000 stereomicroscope. Fossil structures hidden within the slabs were revealed using a Zeiss Xradia 520 Versa X-ray Microscope. Scanning pixel size ranged from 3.4 to 26.8 μm, depending on the size of the scanned region and the slab. The digital data from each specimen, in the form of a series of one to a few thousand TIFF images representing cross-sections through different parts of the slab, were processed with Drishti software (Version 2.4) to generate 3-D models of the fossils.
SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY
Phylum Euarthropoda Lankester, 1904
Class incertae sedis
Order incertae sedis
Family incertae sedis
Genus (monotypic) Chuandianella Hou and Bergström, 1991
Generic and species diagnosis (amended after Hou and Bergström, 1991). Bivalved euarthropod bearing an antenniform first appendage consisting of at least 10 podomeres; a short, uniramous second appendage with at least six podomeres; and 10 other, homonomous appendages interpreted as comprising a short paddle-shaped exopod and a feather-like endopod bearing at least 27 podomeres each with a long blade-like endite bearing a terminal seta; and an abdomen comprising four apodous segments plus a tailpiece with two elongate, flap-like caudal structures.
Remarks. Alternative interpretations of the homonomous limbs, that they might represent an epipod+basipod or epipod+exopod arrangement, are less parsimonious, in that they would require either the complete reduction of the exopod or the endopod (see further comments in ‘Discussion’ below).
Type species. Mononotella ovata Li, 1975. Note: The author’s name “Li” is spelled “Lee” in some publications.
Type horizon and locality. Chiungchussu Formation, Eoredlichia-Wutingaspis trilobite biozone, Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3. Chiungchussu, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
Species. Chuandianella ovata (Li, 1975).
Holotype. Repository given (Li, 1975) as the Institute of Southwestern Geosciences, Chengdu, China (now known as The Chengdu Centre of the Geological Survey of China). Collection number YN6303, specimen number YO10; designated and figured Li ,1975, pl. 3, fig. 16.
Key synonymy. Mononotella ovata Li, 1975, sp. nov., p. 65, pl. 3, figs 16, 17; Mononotella viviosa Li, 1975, sp. nov., p. 65, pl. 3, fig. 18; ?Mononotella marginia Li, 1975, sp. nov., pl. 3, figs 19, 20; Chuandianella ovata (Li, 1975), Hou and Bergström, 1997, p. 41, fig. 37 (q.v. for earlier synonymy); Chuandianella ovata (Li, 1975), Liu and Shu, 2008, p. 358, text-figs 1-3; Chuandianella ovata (Li, 1975), Hou et al., 2017, p. 238, figs 20.61, 20.62; Chuandianella ovata, Ou et al., 2020, figs 1A, C, E, G, H, J, 2, 3.
Species diagnosis. As for the genus.
Description. The carapace (a feature termed ‘shield’ by some) is up to 1.45 cm long (Liu and Shu, 2008) and is folded along a median line giving a ‘bivalved’ arrangement; it lacks an articulating hinge. Valves are strongly postplete in lateral outline and lack lobation; they have a narrow incurved free margin (Figure 1A-B, Figure 2A, Figure 3A-B, Figure 4A). In some specimens (Figure 4E, J; Appendix 2A) the external carapace surface is finely pitted. The body is up to 3 cm long from the anterior sclerite to the proximal part of the tailfans (measured from fig. 1 of Ou et al., 2020) and consists of 18 segments (Figure 3B, Figure 5). Pedunculate stalked eyes originate from the first (ocular; presumed protocerebral) segment and protrude beyond the anterior margin of the carapace (e.g., Figure 4F-G; Appendix 3, Appendix 4). The eye has a dark-coloured central zone and a light-coloured outer zone, with a well-defined visual surface (Figure 4G; Appendix 4B).
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The first appendage is antenniform and consists of at least 10 podomeres; it is narrow, about 30% longer than the carapace and gradually tapers distally (Figure 1A, Figure 3B, Figure 4A, I; Appendix 4A, Appendix 5A). The proximal podomere is stouter than the rest and the more distal podomeres are longer; the inner margin of each podomere bears up to five short stiff adaxially directed setae (Figure 4B-D; Appendix 5). The second appendage is also uniramous, geniculate at about mid-length, and consisting of at least six gradually tapering podomeres; it is presumed to be homologous to an endopod (Figure 1C, E, G, Figure 4K, Figure 5; Appendix 6B-C). Its terminal podomere is elongate, rod-like and apparently lacks a terminal claw (Figure 1C, Figure 4K); it is uncertain if it has setae or not. Posterior to the second appendage there are 10 homonomous appendages. Each consists of a short paddle-shaped exopod (Figure 1B, F; Appendix 2C-D, Appendix 7A-B, Appendix 8A-B) and a much longer endopod that is more robust proximally and gradually tapers distally (Figure 2C); evidence of the basipod is not apparent. The endopod bears at least 27 podomeres, each with a long blade-like endite bearing a short terminal seta (Figure 1D, Figure 2C, Figure 4; Appendix 5B, Appendix 8C, Appendix 9B), giving an overall feather-like appearance to the ramus. The endites in some specimens are preserved perpendicular to the axis of the endopod and parallel to each other (e.g., Figure 1D, Figure 2A), but in other specimens they overlap each other (e.g., Figure 2C) indicating flexible movement and/or taphonomic displacement. The posterior part of the trunk (= abdomen sensu Vannier et al., 2018 and Zhai et al., 2019b), which consists of a tubular section of four sclerites and a tailpiece bearing two long, blade-like structures, is apodous (Figure 1A-B, Figure 3A-B). The carapace covers about the first nine segments of the body; the more posterior segments protrude posteriorly from the carapace via a gape (Figure 3A-B). Two specimens bear tiny sub-circular/ovoid objects, mostly 400-600 µm across and loosely scattered within the left valve (Figure 2B) or roughly arranged in multiple rows (Appendix 10A); they are interpreted as eggs (see Ou et al., 2020). In the better-preserved specimen YKLP 16258 (Appendix 10) at least 48 eggs are associated with a single valve.
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DISCUSSION
Affinities of Chuandianella ovata
Chuandianella ovata is an ‘upper’ stem-group euarthropod (sensu Ortega-Hernández, 2016) based on its possession of a multi-segmented head region with, in this case, two pairs of differentiated post-ocular limbs, and complete arthropodization, including post-oral biramous limbs. We cannot determine the presence of a posterior facing mouth beneath a hypostome/labrum complex. Though we cannot see its neurological attachment to the head, we interpret the first appendage pair as deutocerebral in origin based on its position behind the eye and its morphological resemblance to the antenniform first appendage of other upper stem group euarthropods.
Based on carapace morphology, Chuandianella ovata was originally (Li, 1975) assigned to the Cambrian bradoriid Mononotella (for which, see Siveter and Williams, 1997) and was subsequently designated (Hou and Bergström, 1991) as the type species of Chuandianella. Chen et al. (1996) and Chen (2004) opined that C. ovata is a waptiid, related to the Burgess Shale Waptia fieldensis Walcott, 1912. Hou and Bergström (1997) tentatively included Chuandianella in the Family Waptiidae Walcott, 1912, though noted it had ‘not yet been studied in detail’. Both taxa have carapaces with a postplete outline lacking lobes and nodes, a dorsal median fold lacking an articulating hinge, a trunk with four apodous segments, and a tailpiece with two caudal structures (Chen et al., 1996; Hou and Bergström, 1997; Chen, 2004). With some exceptions (Liu and Shu, 2004, 2008; Hou et al., 2017) a possible affinity with waptiids has persisted, as in the study of the bivalved Pauloterminus spinodorsalis from the Cambrian of Greenland (Taylor, 2002) and in Vannier et al. (2018) who considered Chuandianella to be a mandibulate euarthropod. Ou et al. (2020), in their detailed study of the reproductive mode of C. ovata assigned it to the pancrustacean Hymenocarina, where the Burgess-Shale W. fieldensis is placed. However, the phylogenetic analysis of Ou et al. (2020) did not include key morphologies of Mandibulata such as the presence of mandibles and maxillulae (see the first paragraph of the “Systematic Palaeontology” section as well as table S1 of Ou et al., op. cit.). Our detailed CT analysis shows that C. ovata does not possess specialized mandibles and maxillulae and therefore should not be assigned to Mandibulata (see also Scholtz and Edgecombe, 2006).
The morphology of Chuandianella ovata is substantially different from both Pauloterminus spinodorsalis and Waptia fieldensis. The biramous trunk appendages of P. spinodorsalis, each with a short flagellate endopod consisting of small serial podomeres and a long, paddle-shaped exopod, distinguish it from C. ovata, while P. spinodorsalis also possesses a longer carapace (9.1 - 46.3 mm; Taylor, 2002) compared with that of C. ovata (5.15 - 13.09 mm; see Appendix 1). Waptia fieldensis is interpreted as possessing a specialised mandible and maxillula, while the four post-maxillular appendages are also specialized with 5-segmented endopods (Vannier et al., 2018). These diagnostic features, together with the longer carapace of W. fieldensis (in adults, 10.99 - 24.54 mm; Vannier et al., 2018), distinguish it from C. ovata.
A detailed phylogenetic analysis of Chuandianella ovata, pending revision of current phylogenetic databases, will hopefully resolve its relationships to other euarthropods more precisely. The new morphological data provided here will help factor such analyses.
Feather-like endopods of Chuandianella ovata
Previous studies of Chuandianella ovata (e.g., Liu and Shu, 2008) did not identify the paddle-shaped exopods of its trunk limbs, and the feather-like endopods (Figure 1D, Figure 2C, Figure 3A) were interpreted as exopods. The extremely long blade-like endopodal endites of C. ovata are remarkable in a Cambrian bivalved euarthropod and further demonstrate that early, ‘upper’ stem-group euarthropods were experimenting with a wide array of different limb arrangements and morphologies (Zhai et al., 2019a). Morphologically similar structures occur in Waptia fieldensis: six pairs of annulate post-cephalothoracic seemingly single-branched appendages fringed with long lamellae (Vannier et al., 2018) were interpreted as possible endopods or, more likely, basipods of a unique morphology within Euarthropoda (Vannier et al., 2018). The morphology of the endopods in C. ovata also bear comparison with those of the bradoriid Kunmingella douvillei (Mansuy, 1912), though in the latter the endopodal endites are less numerous (see Zhai et al., 2019a), are cylindrical rather than blade-like, and are shorter. Without a full understanding of their 3-D morphology, the endopods of Kunmingella were initially misinterpreted as exopods (Hou et al., 1996, fig. 5).
Alternative interpretations of the homonomous appendage morphology in C. ovata can also be considered. The flap-like outer branch we describe as an exopod might be interpreted as an epipod while the feather-like inner branch might be an extensively modified basipod like that of Waptia (Vannier et al., 2018); or that the limb branch that we interpret as the endopod is morphologically similar to the exopod of Marrella (Briggs et al., 1994) and Misszhouia (Chen and Zhou, 1997). Liu et al. (2021a) identified an additional exite complex consisting of multiple flaps situated proximally to the so-called exopod in different Cambrian arthropods including the megacheiran Leanchoilia illicebrosa and the artiopods Naraoia spinosa and Retifacies abnormalis. This implies that the homology of the different branches of the arthropod appendages may be complicated, and therefore alternative hypotheses would coexist. In the case of Chuandianella, however, the epipod + basipod/exopod interpretations are less parsimonious than the exopod + endopod interpretation we favour, in that they would require either the complete reduction of the exopod and the endopod in addition to extensive modification of the basipod (the epipod + basipod interpretation), or the complete reduction of the endopod (the epipod + exopod interpretation). In addition, both ‘epipod interpretations’ would be accompanied by a crown-ward, possibly pan-crustacean position, of not only Chuandianella but also the bradoriid Kunmingella with its somewhat similar biramous appendages (Zhai et al., 2019a). Such assignments are currently not supported by the morphological evidence that both species lack specialized mandibles and maxillulae.
Mode of life of Chuandianella ovata
The morphology of the biramous appendages of Chuandianella ovata is not compatible with ambulatory activity on the seabed. The feather-like endopods and well-developed tailpiece of C. ovata may have aided swimming/propulsion and manoeuvrability (Figure 1A, D, Figure 2A, C, Figure 3, Figure 5, Figure 6; see also Liu and Shu, 2008). An ability for wide dispersal is supported by its geographical occurrence: C. ovata is relatively common at similar Cambrian stratigraphical levels (Series 2, Stage 3) in Sichuan, Guizhou, and southern Shaanxi provinces, China (Hou et al., 2017), although only material from Yunnan has yielded soft anatomy. The Chinese distribution of C. ovata is comparable to bradoriid taxa such as Kunmingella and Liangshanella, which are also known from palaeogeographical regions beyond China (Hou et al., 2002), suggestive of wide dispersal capability. Chuandianella ovata may also have used its long feather-like endopodal endites for filter-feeding, capturing small-sized organic material. Its long setate antenniform first appendages presumably had a sensory function, among other things, perhaps to detect food and monitor environmental conditions and other animals. The diminutive second appendage may have functioned like the main ramus of the first maxillula of living crustaceans such as ostracods (Meisch, 2000) to support food manipulation other than mastication. The well-developed stalked eyes protrude beyond the carapace and their preservation in various attitudes suggests that they were mobile to provide multi-directional vision (Figure 1A, Figure 3A-B, Figure 4A, F, I; see also Appendix 3, Appendix 4). The radius of curvature of the eye is greater laterally than frontally, suggesting better resolution of the lateral field (Strausfeld et al., 2016). That C. ovata occurs in supposed coprolites in the Chengjiang biota (Chen and Zhou, 1997; Vannier and Chen, 2005) indicates that it was a prey or carrion item.
The bivalved carapace of Chuandianella ovata, which has recently been shown to be reinforced by phosphatic mineralization (Liu et al., 2021b), functioned not only for protection of soft anatomy but also as a surface for the attachment of its eggs. Ou et al. (2020) reported egg-bearing specimens of C. ovata and compared possible reproductive modes of C. ovata and Waptia fieldensis (the latter reported by Caron and Vannier, 2016) based on the size, number, and morphology of eggs. They determined that the eggs of C. ovata were smaller (0.5 mm versus 2.0 mm in diameter) than those of W. fieldensis, but each individual animal carried significantly more eggs (≤100 versus ≤26 per clutch) than W. fieldensis, implying different reproductive strategies (Ou et al., 2020). Our observations on our egg-bearing specimens of C. ovata (Figure 2B; Appendix 10) generally confirm the size, number and position of eggs as indicated by Ou et al. (2020). Since C. ovata is morphologically distinct from W. fieldensis differences in brooding strategies between these taxa are not surprising. Sexual dimorphism has been suggested for C. ovata, by which the valves of supposed males are larger, with a greater height to length ratio, and have a pitted rather than smooth surface (Liu and Shu, 2008). As one of the two egg-bearing specimens in our material has pitted valves (Figure 4J) ornament should not be regarded as a possible dimorphic character. We have been unable to replicate the observation (Liu and Shu, 2008) that female and male reproductive systems are preserved in some specimens.
CONCLUSION
Micro-CT scanning of the stem group euarthropod Chuandianella ovata from the Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte reveals unprecedented details of its soft anatomy. We use these data to interpret C. ovata as bearing differentiated first and second appendages, and a further 10 homonomous appendages each bearing a short paddle-shaped exopod and a feather-like endopod of at least 27 podomeres. Alternative interpretations, that these limb branches may represent an epipod + basipod or epipod + exopod arrangement, are deemed unlikely. Our interpretation of the limb morphology clearly differentiates Chuandianella from the Cambrian mandibulate euarthropod Waptia, to which it has been compared, and its feather-like endopods attest to the wide diversity of limb arrangements and morphologies developed by early Cambrian, ‘upper’ stem-group euarthropods. The widespread geographical occurrence of C. ovata in the lower Cambrian of southwest China suggests enhanced dispersal capability comparable to that of some contemporaneous bradoriid arthropods. Its well-developed stalked eyes would have provided multi-directional vision for various uses including detection of predators. That C. ovata occurs in supposed coprolites in the Chengjiang biota also indicates that it was a prey or carrion item.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was supported by NSFC grant 41902011, the Key Research Program of the Institute of Geology & Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGGCAS-201905), and Yunnan Provincial Grants 202101AT070158 and YNWR-QNBJ-2019-295. M.W. thanks the Leverhulme Trust for a Research Fellowship (RF-2018-275\4). We thank X. Wang for making the artistic reconstruction of Chuandianella used in Figure 6, and Q. Wang for assistance in revising some of the figures. The Jianshan Subsidiary of the Yunnan Phosphate Chemical Group Co. Ltd. provided invaluable help facilitating field work. The Yunnan Geological Survey granted access to two of the specimens. We are grateful for the constructive comments of two anonymous reviewers.
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