Walossekia quinquespinosa is a Cambrian genus of arthropod from the Orsten of Sweden.
| Walossekia Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| (unranked): | Panarthropoda |
| (unranked): | Tactopoda |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Genus: | †Walossekia Müller, 1983 |
| Species: | †W. quinquespinosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Walossekia quinquespinosa Müller, 1983
| |
Description
editWalossekia is roughly 850 micrometers long, with a large carapace covering most of its body except for the abdomen. The smooth, boat-shaped carapace has five spines on its posterior rim with the median one being largest, and a long rostrum on its anterior end. Walossekia's abdomen has no appendages except for a pair of caudal furcae roughly as long as said abdomen, with setae at their ends. The head has three specialised pairs of appendages, alongside a labrum and median eye. The body of Walossekia has five serially developed pairs, the first four of which form a filter apparatus whilst the last was likely still developing. Due to this, the holotype is likely still larval, and one or two larger growth stages have been recorded.[1]
Etymology
editWalossekia derives from the name of Dieter Waloßek, who helped with the reconstruction drawings within the paper. The specific name quinquespinosa translates to "five-spined", referring to the five spines on the posterior rim of the carapace.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Müller, Klaus J. (April 1983). "Crustacea with preserved soft parts from the Upper Cambrian of Sweden". Lethaia. 16 (2): 93–109. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1983.tb01704.x.
 | This prehistoric arthropod–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |