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Background <p>Corcoraniidae is a rare and understudied family of lower Paleozoic euarthropods that are important for understanding early chelicerate evolution. However, the diversity, morphology, and distribution of this group remain poorly resolved, particularly during the late Cambrian.</p> Results <p>Here, we describe a new corcoraniid from the late Cambrian (Furongian) Rivière-du-Loup Formation of Quebec, Canada. The distinctive morphology of this specimen warrants erection of a new genus and species, <i>Magnicornaspis garwoodi</i> gen. et sp. nov. This new taxon expands the morphological disparity in Corcoraniidae and suggests that a shift in location of large cephalic spines arose within older members of the clade. The presence of a corcoraniid within the Rivière-du-Loup Formation provides a crucial data point within the “Furongian Gap” suggesting that perceived biodiversity declines may be an artifact of sampling bias rather than anoxia-driven extinction.</p> Conclusions <p>This material highlights the potential for exceptional soft-bodied preservation within deeper-water lithofacies and warrants renewed investigation of the Rivière-du-Loup Formation. The deposit has a high probability of representing a new Furongian Konservat-Lagerstätte that will present important insight into late Cambrian biodiversity and the evolutionary history of early arthropods.</p>

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New exceptionally preserved arthropod from the Furongian of Canada

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月28日

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  • Russell D. C. Bicknell,
  • Julien Kimmig,
  • Aaron Goodman,
  • Thomas Turner,
  • Patrick M. Smith

摘要

Background

Corcoraniidae is a rare and understudied family of lower Paleozoic euarthropods that are important for understanding early chelicerate evolution. However, the diversity, morphology, and distribution of this group remain poorly resolved, particularly during the late Cambrian.

Results

Here, we describe a new corcoraniid from the late Cambrian (Furongian) Rivière-du-Loup Formation of Quebec, Canada. The distinctive morphology of this specimen warrants erection of a new genus and species, Magnicornaspis garwoodi gen. et sp. nov. This new taxon expands the morphological disparity in Corcoraniidae and suggests that a shift in location of large cephalic spines arose within older members of the clade. The presence of a corcoraniid within the Rivière-du-Loup Formation provides a crucial data point within the “Furongian Gap” suggesting that perceived biodiversity declines may be an artifact of sampling bias rather than anoxia-driven extinction.

Conclusions

This material highlights the potential for exceptional soft-bodied preservation within deeper-water lithofacies and warrants renewed investigation of the Rivière-du-Loup Formation. The deposit has a high probability of representing a new Furongian Konservat-Lagerstätte that will present important insight into late Cambrian biodiversity and the evolutionary history of early arthropods.