Phylum Chordata Order Myllokunmingiidae | Superclass Agnatha Species Z. rostratus Rank Genus | |
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Similar Zhongxiniscus, Myllokunmingiidae, Yuyuanozoon, Haikouella, Myllokunmingia | ||
Zhongjianichthys rostratus is an extinct basal chordate that lived in the Cambrian period, approximately 530 million years ago. It is sometimes regarded as an early fish, and therefore as one of the first vertebrates.
Contents
Physical characteristics
The eyes are located behind the antero-dorsal lobe and the mouth apparently did not have a jaw. It lacked scales, and had a thick skin. The ventral fin is low in height, and runs much of the body's length.
Locations
Zhongjianichthys specimens have been found in the early Cambrian Maotianshan shales of China.
References
Zhongjianichthys Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA