Reg. Charity No. 1168330
Interpretation of the enigmatic soft-bodied yunnanozoans from the Lower Cambrian (Stage 3, Series 2) Chengjiang Biota has remained controversial for decades because of their strange body plan and their variable taphonomic alteration. Proposed affinities have ranged from stem bilaterian to stem vertebrate. A study of over seven hundred slabs, many newly collected, from five sections at two localities demonstrates that yunnanozoans have sclerotized dorsal and axial segments, a body cavity, a unique feeding region and a coiled alimentary canal. Although two genera have been previously discriminated, all specimens have the same number of filamentous arches (seven pairs) and of ventral circular structures (four pairs); this indicates that Haikouella Chen, Huang and Li, 1999 is a junior synonym of Yunnanozoon Hou, Ramsköld and Bergström, 1991. Our analysis reveals new details of the putative pharyngeal pores of Yunnanozoon lividum, and although there are similarities with the gill slits of deuterostomes, the question of their homology remains moot. The filamentous arches and their supporting rods were probably sclerotized and represent a specialized feeding structure. Yunnanozoans exhibit characters that are open to a number of alternative interpretations of putative homology, encompassing comparisons with deuterostomes and protostomes (including members of the Platyzoa). Given their unique features, and the current lack of secure homologies, the affinities of yunnanozoans should continue to be considered in a wider bilaterian context.