Origin, diversification, and relationships of Cambrian lobopods

As an extinct group, the origin, diversification and relationships of Cambrian lobopods have long been one of the most hotly-debated subjects. Lobopods used to be regarded as closely related to modem onychophorans and tardigrades, but the similarities are based on the few species of Cambrian lobopods and often on a fairly general level. With the discovery of new creatures and based on new observations on fossil lobopods, we consider that Cambrian lobopods show great diversity and reveal a close relationship between Cambrian lobopods and arthropods. In addition, comparison between the dorsal spines of Cambrian lobopods and small shelly fossils suggest that Cambrian lobopods might have originated from the Meishucun radiation and diversified in the Qiongzhusi radiation. (C) 2007 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.