Waputikia is a possible red alga of the middle Cambrian Burgess shale.[1] It comprises a main stem about 1 cm across, with the longest recovered fossil 6 cm in length.[1] Branches of a similar diameter emerge from the side of the main branch, then rapidly bifurcate to much finer widths. The fossils are smooth and shiny; no internal structure can be recognised.[1] 10 specimens of Waputikia are known from the Greater Phyllopod bed, where they comprise < 0.1% of the community.[2]

Waputikia
Temporal range: Middle Cambrian, Burgess Shale
Scientific classification
Domain:
(unranked):
Division:
Class:
Genus:
Waputikia
Species:
W. ramosa
Binomial name
Waputikia
Walcott 1919

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Briggs, D. E. G.; Erwin, D. H.; Collier, F. J. (1995), Fossils of the Burgess Shale, Washington: Smithsonian Inst Press, ISBN 1-56098-659-X, OCLC 231793738
  2. ^ Caron, Jean-Bernard; Jackson, Donald A. (October 2006). "Taphonomy of the Greater Phyllopod Bed community, Burgess Shale". PALAIOS. 21 (5): 451–65. Bibcode:2006Palai..21..451C. doi:10.2110/palo.2003.P05-070R. JSTOR 20173022. S2CID 53646959.

External links edit