Cambrian explosion fossils from the North China craton

A new middle Cambrian (Drumian) Burgess-Shale-type (BST) fossil deposit, the Linyi Lagerstätte, has been formally described from the North China craton, marking a significant discovery. This site, located in Shandong Province, is the youngest BST found in China and complements earlier findings from nearby Weifang. The Linyi Lagerstätte includes notable soft-bodied species such as the newly described radiodont Cordaticaris striatus and rare arthropods like Thelxiope. Quantitative analysis suggests it represents an intermediate fauna between East Gondwana and Laurentia, providing insights into global paleobiogeographic patterns during the Cambrian explosion. This study underscores the importance of continued field exploration and detailed investigation to enhance our understanding of early animal evolution.

Caron, J.-B. (2022). Cambrian explosion fossils from the North China craton. National Science Review, 9(7). https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwac082