Megadictyon

Megadictyon is a genus of Cambrian lobopodian with similarities to Jianshanopodia and Siberion. The name of the genus is occasionally mis-spelt as Magadictyon.

Description

Megadictyon is a large lobopodian, with a body length possibly up to 20 centimeters in total. The head has a pair of robust frontal appendages associated with rows of spines and terminal claws. Located on the underside of the head is a radiodont-like mouthpart formed by multiple layers of plates and tooth-like structures. The trunk is wide and annulated, with a pair of well-developed lobopodous limbs on each body segment. Only 8 segment/limb pairs are countable in the incomplete fossil materials which are lacking the posterior region, so it may have had more in nature. It also has pairs of digestive glands similar to those of basal arthropods.

Phylogeny

Phylogenetic position of Megadictyon according to Pates et al..