Unique lowermost Cambrian small shelly fossils (SSFs) from eastern Yunnan, South China: implications for the early diversification history of animals

With a particular focus on the earliest Cambrian diversification of small shelly fossils (SSFs), stratigraphic analysis was conducted on the lower Cambrian Zhongyicun Member at the Hongjiachong section in the Chengjiang area, Yunnan, China. From ca. 3-m-thick bedded phosphorites (Unit A) in the lower part of the member, we recovered unique SSFs. This interval with 4 SSF-bearing horizons is characterized by the dominance in blade-shaped SSFs, including Halkieria spp., Brushenodus prionodes, Sinosachites delicatus, and Pteronus sp., and the absence of typical tube/cap-shape SSFs common in the Fortunian. This interval tentatively named Halkieriadominant interval is stratigraphically positioned ca. 3 m below the previously known level of the oldest mollusks in the continuous bedded phosphorite sequence between the Anabarites trisulcatus-Protohertzina anabarica Assemblage Zone and the overlying Paragloborilus subglobosa-Purella squamulosa Assemblage Zone of the Fortunian (the earliest Cambrian). The Halkieria-dominant interval yields some SSFs likely affiliated with ostracods in view of size and morphology, suggesting that arthropod body fossils appeared in the Fortunian, considerably earlier than previously believed. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. and Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Stratigraphic analysis of small shelly fossils (SSFs) in the lower Cambrian Zhongyicun Member in the Chengjiang area of Yunnan, China reveals unique SSFs and suggests the presence of arthropod body fossils in the Fortunian, earlier than previously believed.