Priapulans

Priapulans are a phylum of worm-like animals that live on the seafloor and commonly burrow into the sediment, feeding on worms. They periodically shed a thin cuticle in order to grow, a feature that unites them with arthropods. Some species grow and live in tubes.

Only 16 living and 14 fossil species of priapulans are known (Brusca and Brusca, 2003); some of these fossils species are known from the Middle Cambrian of Utah and include the following species:

Gallery of Priapulans

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

 

Ottoia prolifica Walcott, 1911c

KUMIP 144857. Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figures 3.1, 3.2 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144857

 

KUMIP 204770 (Part, counterpart). Marjum Formation, House Range, Millard County, Utah. Figures 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP204770AKUMIP204770B

 

KUMIP 314105 (Part). Marjum Formation, House Range, Millard County, Utah.

KUMIP314105

 

Selkirkia willoughbyi Conway Morris & Robison, 1986

KUMIP 204788 (Holotype; Part, counterpart). Marjum Formation, House Range, Millard County, Utah. Figures 4.2, 4.3 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP204788AKUMIP204788B

 

KUMIP 144873 (Paratype). Wheeler Formation, Drum Mountains, Millard County, Utah. Figure 4.4 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144873

 

KUMIP 144872 (Paratype). Wheeler Formation, Drum Mountains, Millard County, Utah. Figure 4.7 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144872

 

KUMIP 144871 (Paratype). Wheeler Formation, Drum Mountains, Millard County, Utah. Figure 4.6 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144871

 

KUMIP 144867 (Paratype). Wheeler Formation, Drum Mountains, Millard County, Utah. Figure 4.5 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144867

 

KUMIP 144859 to 144861 (Paratypes). Wheeler Formation, Drum Mountains, Millard County, Utah. Figure No in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144859-144861

 

KUMIP 144846 to 144850 (Paratypes; part). Wheeler Formation, Drum Mountains, Millard County, Utah. Figure 4.1 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144846-144850

 

KUMIP 144854 &144855 (Paratypes). Wheeler Formation, Drum Mountains, Millard County, Utah. Figure 4.8, 4.9 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144854&144855

 

Selkirkia cf. columbia Conway Morris, 1977

KUMIP 204363 & 204364. Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 17 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1988.

KUMIP204363-204364

 

KUMIP 204365. Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah.

KUMIP204365

 

Selkirkia spencei Resser, 1939

KUMIP 144845. Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 7.3 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144845

 

KUMIP 144858. Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah. Figure 7.4 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144858

 

Selkirkia sp. Walcott, 1911c

KUMIP 144844. Wheeler Formation, House Range, Millard County, Utah. Figure 7.1 in Conway Morris & Robison, 1986.

KUMIP144844

 

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