A new arthropod, Guangweicaris Luo, Fu et Hu gen. nov from the Early Cambrian Guanshan Fauna, Kunming, China

The Guanshan Fauna is a soft-bodied fauna dominated by arthropods (including trilobites, trilobitoides, Tuzoia, Isoxys, and bradorids) in association with priapulids, brachiopods, anomalocaridids, vetulicoliids, sponges, chancellorids, and echinoderms. This paper reports and describes a new arthropod from the yellowish green mudstone at the lower part of the Wulongqing Formation, Canglangpuan Stage, Lower Cambrian in Kunming, Yunnan, China. The stratigraphic and geographic distribution, classification, fossil preservation, life style of this new arthropod and comparisons with other fossil arthropods are also discussed in details. The discovery and research of the non-mineralized arthropod, Guangweicaris Luo, Fu et Hu gen. nov. from the Guanshan Fauna adds new members to the taxonomic list and provides new information to the evolution of early arthropods. Furthermore, this study would shed new light into the "Cambrian Explosion" and the evolution of early life.