Oura megale
Oura is an extinct genus of deuteropod from the Cambrian Stage 3 of the Chengjiang Lagerstätte, located in the Yunnan Province, China. It contains a single species, O. megale. It is most notable for its large, triangular tailpiece. This tailpiece may have improved Ouras maneuverability.
Discovery and naming
Oura was named based on a single specimen, YKLP 17237, found in Yunnan Province, China, in the Chengjiang lagerstätte. Some details of the anatomy of this specimen were lost during preparation. The genus name, Oura, comes from the Greek for tail, while the species name, megale, means large.
Description
Oura is roughly 14 cm long. The head is divided into six segments, the anteriormost of which bears a pair of stalked eyes. The next most anterior segment of the head bears a pair of raptorial frontal appendages with at least 3 podomeres. Posterior to these segments are 4 other cephalic segments. The thorax is divided into 15 segments. Each of these segments bears a pair of appendages, probably biramous. The last of these segments bears a very large and wide triangular tailpiece.
Taxonomy
Oura is a deuteropod, as evidenced by its arthrodization and the segmentation of its head.
Oura was likely a nektonic predator. The large tailpiece likely made Oura more maneuverable while swimming. Its lifestyle may have been somewhat comparable to that of some radiodonts, such as Anomalocaris.