Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Apankura
Extinct genus of euthycarcinoid From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Apankura is an extinct genus of Cambrian euthycarcinoids from the Santa Rosita Formation of Argentina. The genus contains a single species, Apankura machu.[1] It was at one point the only Cambrian euthycarcinoid. However, Mosineia and Mictomerus are likely older.[2]
Remove ads
Description
Apankura is roughly 4 centimetres (1.6 in) long, and has large mandibles, a trait previously unknown from euthycarcinoids. The antennae are uniramous like other euthycarcinoids, with a possible buccal complex present behind the mandibles. No post-mandibular oral appendages are present. The pre-abdomen is composed of five tergites, with 11 uniramous limb pairs, with the tergites showing "segment decoupling" where there are more limbs than tergites. The pre-abdomen also has 11 sternites, each roughly 3 times wider than long. The pre-abdominal limbs match other euthycarcinoids, although they taper distally and lack setae. The apodemes are preserved as several dark rods. The post-abdomen is incomplete but composed of at least six segments, all lacking limbs, with the gut preserved as a dark line in the centre. A circular structure on the second post-abdominal segment is of unclear function, although it may be a gonopore. Apankura is unique among euthycarcinoids due to the reduced anterior pre-abdominal limbs, a longer post-abdomen and relatively few limb podomeres.[1]
Remove ads
Etymology
Apankura derives from a Quechua word meaning "crab", whilst machu derives from a word meaning "grandfather" in reference to the age of the fossils.[1]
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads