Zhenghecaris

Zhenghecaris Temporal range:
Fossil specimens of Zhenghecaris
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	incertae sedis
Genus:	†Zhenghecaris Vannier et al., 2006
Species:	†Z. shankouensis
Binomial name
†Zhenghecaris shankouensis Vannier et al., 2006

Zhenghecaris shankouensis is an enigmatic arthropod from the Lower Cambrian Maotianshan Shales, either classified as a hurdiid or thylacocephalan. It is known from several specimens mostly preserving the carapace and eyes measuring roughly 15 cm (5.9 in), which mark it as one of the largest thylacocephalans, behind Ostenocaris, Dollocaris and Ainiktozoon, as well as the earliest since all other thylacocephalans are Ordovician or younger. Since no appendages have been preserved, the fossil may not be a thylacocephalan, with a hurdiid affinity being suggested instead, due to its resemblance to the H-element of genera such as Cambroraster. It has also been suggested to be within Arthropoda incertae sedis, as the fragmentary remains cannot confidently be classified further.

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  Reconstruction as thylacocephalan
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  Reconstruction as radiodont sclerite