Priapulid worms from the Cambrian of China shed light on reproduction in early animals  

作　　者：Xiao-yu Yang Jean Vannier Jie Yang Deng Wang Xi-guang Zhang 

机构地区：[1]Key Laboratory for Paleobiology and MEC International Joint Laboratory for Paleoenvironment,Yunnan University,Kunming 650091,China [2]Univ Lyon,Univ Lyon 1,ENSL,CNRS,LGL-TPE,F-69622 Villeurbanne,France [3]Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environments,State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics,Department of Geology,Northwest University,Xi’an 710069,China

出　　处：《Geoscience Frontiers》2021年第6期105-113,共9页地学前缘（英文版）

基　　金：This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41730318)to X.G.Z.and J.Y.;the Innovative Research Fund for Graduate Students of Yunnan University(Grant No.2019228)to X.Y.Y.;the ASSEMBLE,PRC(CNRS,France and NSFC,China);PAI(Univ.Lyon 1,Région Auvergne Rhône Alpes)grants to J.V.

摘　　要：In the recent years,exceptional fossil sites have revealed astonishing details on the anatomy,lifestyles and behaviour of Cambrian animals but surprisingly,very little is known about one of their most vital features,reproduction.We describe here in situ eggs(clusters of 3 to 30 oocytes)in the tube-dwelling priapulid worm Paraselkirkia sinica from the Cambrian Stage 3 Xiaoshiba Lagerstätte(ca.514 Ma,South China).These oocytes were accommodated within paired tubular ovaries located in the posterior half of the primary body cavity as in modern meiobenthic priapulid worms,thus indicating that the general organization of female tubular gonads in priapulid worms has remained virtually unchanged for half a billion years.Our findings provide for the first time,key information on the reproductive organs and strategies of early ecdysozoans,a huge animal clade that dominated Cambrian marine ecosystems and accounts for a large part of today’s biodiversity(e.g.arthropods).Moreover,we also emphasize the critical role of ecology on the reproductive strategies and lifestyles of both modern and Cambrian worms.

关 键 词：PRIAPULIDA Reproductive system PALAEOECOLOGY Evolution Burgess Shale-type preservation China 

分 类 号：Q915[天文地球—古生物学与地层学]