Lecythioscopa is a genus of probable archaeopriapulid known from two specimens from the Walcott Quarry from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale.[1]

Lecythioscopa
Temporal range: 505 Ma
Burgess Shale
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Stem group: Priapulida (?)
Class: Archaeopriapulida
Genus: Lecythioscopa
Conway Morris, 1977[1]
Species
  • L. simplex (Walcott, 1931) Conway Morris 1977
Synonyms
  • Canadia simplex Walcott 1931

Morphology

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The specimens of Lectythioscopa are both missing their posterior portions, leaving a head, comparable to the proboscis of other priapulids, and long trunk, which is curved in both specimens. The animal was probably a burrower due to its external radial symmetry.[1]

History

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The species was originally placed as Canadia simplex by Charles Walcott in a 1931 publication based on a single specimen.[2] Simon Conway Morris later identified what was previously considered a specimen of Canadia dubia as sharing similar features, placing them both under the name of Lecythioscopa simplex.[3][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Conway Morris, S (1977). "Fossil priapulid worms". Special Papers in Palaeontology. 20.
  2. ^ Walcott, C.D. (1931). "Addenda to descriptions of Burgess shale fossils". Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 85: 1–42. doi:10.1086/623925.
  3. ^ Walcott, C.D. (1911). "Middle Cambrian Annelids". Cambrian Geology and Paleontology. 2: 109–142.