Amplectobeluids could be recognized by frontal appendages with well-developed first distal endite, which forming a pincer-like structure that presumably better suited for a grasping function.[4][5] Complete body fossils of amplectobeluids are only known by Amplectobelua and Lyrarapax, both showing combination of characters resembling Anomalocaris (i.e. streamlined body; small head with ovoid sclerites; well-developed swimming flaps; a pair of caudal furcae).[6][7][8][9][10] Another distinctive features only known in amplectobeluid genera were pairs of gnathobase-like structures (known by Amplectobelua and Ramskoeldia),[9][11] or an oral cone with combination of tetraradial arrangement and scale-like nodes (known by Lyrarapax and Guanshancaris).[8][12][13]
Classification
Early in 2014, "Anomalocaris" kunmingensis was tentatively assigned to Amplectobelua by Vinther et al.[4] Later that year, however, the discoverers of Lyrarapax unguispinus ignored that assessment and created a genus within Amplectobeluasensu Vinther et al.[7] An indeterminate frontal appendage assignable to this group is known from the Parker Slate of Vermont.[14]
Phylogeny
An a posteriori-weighted phylogenetic analysis in 2014 found the following relationships within the Amplectobeluidae:[7]
↑ Park, Tae-Yoon S.; Nielsen, Morten Lunde; Parry, Luke A.; Sørensen, Martin Vinther; Lee, Mirinae; Kihm, Ji-Hoon; Ahn, Inhye; Park, Changkun; de Vivo, Giacinto; Smith, M. Paul; Harper, David A. T.; Nielsen, Arne T.; Vinther, Jakob (2024-01-05). "A giant stem-group chaetognath". Science Advances. 10 (1). doi:10.1126/sciadv.adi6678. ISSN2375-2548. PMC10796117.
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