A new priapulid assemblage from the early Cambrian Guanshan fossil Lagerstätte of SW China

A new priapulid assemblage, including 4 palaeoscolecidans and one corynetiid, is reported from the Guanshan fossil Lagerstatte (Cambrian Stage 4, Series 2) from East Yunnan, SW China. Three palaeoscolecidan new species, namely Yunnanoscolex magma gen. et sp. nov., Wudingscolex sapushanensis gem et sp. nov., Paramaotionshania zijunia gem et sp. nov., and a new corynetiid species. Corynetis fortis sp. nov. are described. The lifestyles of these animals and their ecological significance are discussed. The occurrence of abundant and diverse priapulids from both the Chengjiang and Guanshan fossil Lagerstatten in East Yunnan indicates a possible radiation centre of this animal group on the soft-substratum shelf of the western part of the Yangtze Platform.