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Evolution
The first tunicate from the Early Cambrian of South China

Jun-Yuan Chen ^*, Di-Ying Huang, Qing-Qing Peng, Hui-Mei Chi, Xiu-Qiang Wang, and Man Feng

Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Nanjing 210008, China

Edited by Michael S. Levine, University of California, Berkeley, CA and approved May 19, 2003 (received for review February 27, 2003)

Here we report the discovery of eight specimens of an Early Cambrian fossil tunicate Shankouclava near Kunming (South China). The tunicate identity of this organism is supported by the presence of a large and perforated branchial basket, a sac-like peri-pharyngeal atrium, an oral siphon with apparent oral tentacles at the basal end of the siphonal chamber, perhaps a dorsal atrial pore, and an elongated endostyle on the mid-ventral floor of the pharynx. As in most modern tunicates, the gut is simple and U-shaped, and is connected with posterior end of the pharynx at one end and with an atrial siphon at the other, anal end. Shankouclava differs from Cheungkongella, which was previously called a tunicate. Based on new, more complete "Cheungkongella" specimens that show branching tentacles, this form may be a lophophorate, and in any case is not a tunicate.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: chenjunyuan{at}163.net

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