Skania

Short description: Extinct genus of arthropods

Skania

Temporal range: Cambrian Stage 3–Middle Cambrian

PreЄ

Illustration of Skania fragilis
Scientific classification
Domain:  | Eukaryota
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Arthropoda
Class:  | †Marrellomorpha
Order:  | †Acercostraca
Genus:  | †Skania
Walcott, 1931
Species

* S. fragilis Walcott, 1931
* Lin et al. 2006 "S." sundbergi

Skania is a Cambrian fossil arthropod. The type species, S. fragillis, is known from the Burgess Shale of British Columbia, Canada. A second possible species "S." sundbergi is known from the Kaili Formation of China,[1] but its placement within the genus has been questioned.[2]

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Taxonomy
* 3 References
* 4 External links

## Description

Carapace of "S." sundbergi

Specimens of S. fragillis range in length from 7.5 to 13.5 millimetres (0.30 to 0.53 in) The cordiform dorsal shield/carapace covers the entire body, with its midline having a raised keel. The shield curls around the front to form a doublure, with the posterior edge of the doublure having a pair of lateral spines. A pair of spines is also present on the posterior of the dorsal shield. A hypostome was present on the underside of the head. There are two sets of appendages, the first 5 pairs of appendages are elongate, the first one of which is described as an antenna and has small subquadrate segments/podomeres, while the others have elongate subrectangular segments. These appendages are somewhat curved and extend beyond the shield. In contrast, the trunk appendages are shorter (not extending beyond the shield) and are less curved, and the segments are not preserved. There was a diverticular (digestive) network running through the carapace, along with a central gut tract.[2]

Specimens of "S." sundbergi are on average 7.92 millimetres (0.312 in) in length. The midline keel is more strongly pronounced in "S." sundbergi. The spines present in S. fragillis are either more weakly developed or absent.[1][2]

## Taxonomy

While previously enigmatic, it is now thought to be a marrellomorph, with both species, regardless of generic placement, belonging to Acercostraca.[2] The resemblance with the Ediacaran organism Parvancorina, to which Skania had previously been suggested to be closely related as part of the proposed clade "Parvancorinomorpha",[1] is superficial and they are probably not related.[2]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lin, J. P.; Gon, S. M.; Gehling, J. G.; Babcock, L. E.; Zhao, Y. L.; Zhang, X. L.; Hu, S. X.; Yuan, J. L. et al. (2006). "A Parvancorina-like arthropod from the Cambrian of South China". Historical Biology 18 (1): 33–45. doi:10.1080/08912960500508689.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Legg, D.A. (2015-09-30). "The morphology and affinities of Skania fragilis (Arthropoda) from the middle Cambrian Burgess Shale". Bulletin of Geosciences: 509–518. doi:10.3140/bull.geosci.1532. ISSN 1802-8225.

## External links

* "Skania fragilis". Burgess Shale Fossil Gallery. Virtual Museum of Canada. 2011. http://burgess-shale.rom.on.ca/en/fossil-gallery/view-species.php?id=116.

Wikidata ☰ Q2610228 entry

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