Lobopods

LobopodsLobopods are a bizarre group of extinct animals that have a segmented, worm-like body with legs. They may be related to living forms such as the onychophorans (velvet worms), tardigrades (water bears), and the arthropods. A number of globally distributed Cambrian species have been assigned to this group.

One example of a Cambrian lobopod from Utah is Acinocricus stichus Conway Morris & Robison, 1988. The spinose fossils of Acinocricus stichus were first interpreted as algae, but are now thought to be lobopodian (Ramskold & Chen, 1998).

Another example of a Middle Cambrian lobopod from Utah is Aysheaia prolata Robison, 1985.

Gallery of Lobopods

Note: Marks on all scale bars are centimeters (cm).

 

Acinocricus stichus Conway Morris & Robison, 1988

KUMIP 204353 (Holotype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figures 5.3, 6, 9.1 in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP204353

 

KUMIP 204776 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figures 7, 8 in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP204776

 

KUMIP 204357 (Paratype; part, counterpart). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figures 9.2a, 9.2b in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP204357AKUMIP204357B

 

KUMIP 153095 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 1.6 in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP153095

 

KUMIP 204354 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 5.1 in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP204354

 

KUMIP 204355 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 5.2 in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP204355

 

KUMIP 204356 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 5.4 in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP204356

 

KUMIP 204358 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 10.1 in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP204358

 

KUMIP 204359 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 10.2 in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP204359

 

KUMIP 204360 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 10.3 in Conway Morris & Robison (1988).

KUMIP204360

 

KUMIP 241393 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah.

KUMIP241393

 

KUMIP 241401 & 241402 (Paratype; part, counterpart). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah.

KUMIP241401&241402AKUMIP241401&241402B

 

KUMIP 241403 (Paratype). Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah.

KUMIP241403

 

Aysheaia prolata Robison, 1985

KUMIP 153923 (Holotype). Wheeler Formation, House Range, Millard County, Utah. Figure 3 in Robison (1985).

KUMIP153923

 

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