| Cristozoa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Cristozoa |
| Included groups | |
| |
Cristozoa (also known as crest animals) is a grouping of animals possessing a neural crest and derivatives. [1]
It includes all the Craniata, as well as their immediate precraniate precursors. The precraniate crest animals, such as Yunnanozoon , are all extinct and found only in Early Cambrian strata of Yunnan (southwestern China). [1] [2] This group is now considered to be paraphyletic as new studies indicate that Yunnanozoon occupies more basal position in the phylum Chordata than previously thought.[ citation needed ]
