Myllokunmingia

Mil-lo-kun-min-ge-ah.
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Claire Morris

Marine Paleontologist

Claire Morris has dedicated her career to exploring the depths of prehistoric oceans. Her fascination with ancient marine life has led her to discover significant fossils that illuminate the evolution of early sea creatures.

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Name

Myllokunmingia.

Phonetic

Mil-lo-kun-min-ge-ah.

Named By

Shu et al‭ ‬-‭ ‬1999.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Craniata,‭ ‬Myllokunmingiidae.

Diet

Uncertain.

Species

M.‭ ‬fengjiaoa‭

Size

28‭ ‬millimetres long,‭ ‬up to‭ ‬6‭ ‬millimetres high at the deepest point.

Known locations

China,‭ ‬Yunnan Province‭ ‬-‭ ‬Qiongzhusi Formation.

Time Period

Lower Cambrian.

Fossil representation

One individual.

In Depth

       A member of the Craniata,‭ ‬Myllokunmingia is considered to have been a relative of organisms such as lampreys and hagfish,‭ ‬though even the latter has had a controversial assignment.‭ ‬Myllokunmingia seems to have had a body divided into twenty-five segments with five or six gills.‭ ‬Myllokunmingia is also believed to have been related to Zhongjianichthys and Haikouichthys.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Lower Cambrian vertebrates from south China,‭ ‬D-G Shu,‭ ‬H-L Luo,‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Conway Morris,‭ ‬X-L Zhang,‭ ‬S-X Hu,‭ ‬L.‭ ‬Chen,‭ ‬J.‭ ‬Han,‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Zhu‭ & ‬L-Z Chen‭ ‬-‭ ‬1999.

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