Erjiecaris

Erjiecaris Is an extinct genus of bivalved Cambrian arthropod, known from the Chengjiang Biota of Yunnan, China. It is only known from a single species Erjiecaris minisculo. Around 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long, It has an unusual flattened head-shield, with an elongate body with at least 19 segments and a forked tail similar to Waptia. Unlike most bivalved arthropods, its simple, unstalked eyes are placed on top of the headshield. It was likely a nektobenthic (swimming above ocean floor) deposit feeder. The relationship of Erjiecaris to other arthropods was considered uncertain in its original description.^[1] A later study suggested it was a member of Hymenocarina.^[2] Despite the head shield being portrayed as flattened in most specimens, this is likely a preservational artifact from the valves being “butterflied” out, and Erjiecaris likely looked more similar to other hymenocarines.^{[citation needed]}

Erjiecaris Temporal range: Cambrian Stage 3 PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Life restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Genus:	†Erjiecaris Fu, Zhang and Budd, 2014
Species:	†E. minusculo
Binomial name
†Erjiecaris minusculo Fu, Zhang and Budd, 2014