Leanchoilia

Leanchoilia is a megacheiran marine arthropod known from Cambrian deposits of the Burgess Shale in Canada and the Chengjiang biota of China.

Description

L. superlata was about long and had long, whip-like flagellae extending from its great appendages. Its internal organs are occasionally preserved within the substrate in three dimensions. Their two pairs of eyes are protected and covered by their exterior head shields, with two eyes being located on each side.

Species

Seven species are tentatively accepted today: L. superlata, L. persephone and L. protogonia from the Burgess Shale, L. illecebrosa and L. obesa from the Chengjiang biota, L. robisoni from Kaili, and L.? hanceyi from the Spence Shale. L. superlata and L. persephone'' may however be examples of sexual dimorphism.

Distribution

55 specimens of Leanchoilia are known from the Greater Phyllopod bed, where they comprise 0.1% of the community.