Yuning Yang

Northwest University · Department of Geology

Diverse chancelloriids from two sections of the Kaili Biota (Cambrian Wuliuan Stage) in Guizhou Province, China, are systematically described. A total of 25 complete individuals were collected from calcareous silty mudstones of the Cambrian Kaili Formation and are assigned to 3 genera and 6 species, including Archiasterella anchoriformis sp. nov.,...

The International Commission on Stratigraphy and the IUGS Executive Committee have recently ratified a Global Standard Stratotype-section and Point (GSSP) defining the conterminous base of the third series and the fifth stage of the Cambrian System. The series and the stage are respectively named the Miaolingian Series and Wuliuan Stage, after the...

A treasure trove of Cambrian secrets Animal life exploded in diversity and form during the Cambrian period about 500 million years ago. Fu et al. describe an early Cambrian fossil site in China that contains a variety of specimens, more than half of which are previously undescribed (see the Perspective by Daley). The site rivals previously describe...

The planktonic medusiform taxon Pararotadiscus guizhouensis (Zhao and Zhu, 1994) is one of the most abundant components of the Kaili Biota. Many specimens are in direct association with other taxa, including trilobites, brachiopods, hyolithids, echinoderms, and algae, as well as the trace fossil Gordia . Four types of interrelationships between P ....

The gogiid eocrinoid Guizhoueocrinus yui is the most abundant member of the marine benthos in the Balang Fauna (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) of Guizhou, China. To date, little attention has been paid to the morphological development of the thecal plates. Here, based on 120 specimens, we describe the morphological development of the primary large the...

The Cambrian Yanwangbian assemblage (Series 2, Stage 4) in South Shaanxi, China, is one of the Burgess Shale–type faunas as it represents the only relatively diverse Cambrian biota from the north margin of the Yangzte Platform, South China. The paleoscolecids (Cycloneuralia) illustrated herein are one of the major components of the fauna, although...

Our understanding of fossil priapulids, and in particular the palaeoscolecids, is limited owing to the rarity of preserved anterior introverts and a general absence of detailed cuticular ornament preservation in compression material. Here we describe Wronascolex yichangensis sp. nov. (Cycloneuralia, Palaeoscolecida) on the basis of overall external...

SEM analysis of trunk ornamentation on a compressed palaeoscolecid fossil from the Shipai fauna, Cambrian Series 2 and Stage 4 at Three Gorges, South China, allows a reassignment of the material to a new taxon, Sanxiascolex papillogyrus gen. et sp. nov. The preserved body is entirely annulated. Each annulus is ornamented by four rows of irregularly...

The fossil priapulid Ottoia recovered from the Kaili biota, Cambrian Series 3 and Stage 5 of South China, is the first reported occurrence of the genus outside the Cambrian of Laurentia. A total of 22 specimens are described as Ottoia guizhouensis sp. nov. The new species is distinguished from other Cambrian priapulids, including the type species o...

The fossil priapulid Ottoia recovered from the Kaili biota, Cambrian Series 3 and Stage 5 of South China, is the first reported occurrence of the genus outside the Cambrian of Laurentia. A total of 22 specimens are described as Ottoia guizhouensis sp. nov. The new species is distinguished from other Cambrian priapulids, including the type species o...

The trilobite Bathynotus kueichouensis is widespread, occurring in Siberia, South China, North America and Australia. With a short stratigraphic range and widespread geographic distribution, it is useful for marking the top of Cambrian Series 2 and provides important information for precise correlation of the top of the series.

Wiwaxia is an extinct early metazoan with uncertain affinities, which is well represented in strata of Cambrian Series 2–3 age. Well-preserved representatives of Wiwaxia are known from the Burgess Shale Biota and the Kaili Biota. Here, new material of Wiwaxia corrugata (Matthew, 1899) is reported from the upper part of the Tsinghsutung Formation (C...