Middle Cambrian polychaetes from the Burgess Shale of British Columbia

Abstract

The Burgess Shale (Middle Cambrian) polychaetesCanadia spinosaWalcott,Burgessochaeta setigera(Walcott) gen. nov. andPeronochaeta dubia(Walcott) gen. nov. are redescribed on the basis of Walcott’s type specimens and on much additional material. Two new polychaetesInsolicorypha psygmagen. et sp. nov. andStephenoscolex argutusgen. et sp. nov. are described. A poorly preserved specimen of unknown generic affinity is described as type A. The polychaetes are preserved as thin films that adhere to both sides of the split in the rock so that part and counterpart may be available. InC. spinosa, B. setigeraandI. psygma, parts of the bodies such as the fascicles of setae are separated by thin layers of sediment that apparently seeped in during turbulent transport in turbidites or mudflows. The bodies therefore lie on two or more planes of microbedding and the factors that control exposure across a specimen are discussed. Aspects of the palaeoecology of the Burgess Shale are reviewed, including the distance the biota was transported prior to burial, the reasons for the exquisite preservation, and the effects of sedimentary compaction.C. spinosawas characterized by broad notosetae that extended across the dorsum, and large fascicles of neurosetae. Lobate branchiae were situated in the inter-ramal spaces. The prostomium bore a pair of elongate tentacles and the straight gut had an eversible unarmed proboscis. Several lines of evidence suggest thatC. spinosawas an active benthonic swimmer.B. setigerawas peculiar in possessing identical notosetae and neurosetae along the entire body. Long anterior tentacles, possibly of peristomial origin, may have been used in feeding. Indirect evidence indicates thatB. setigerainhabited a burrow which it might have excavated with its proboscis.P. dubiamay also have burrowed but it had uniramous parapodia bearing simple and acicular setae. The prostomium bore a pair of short appendages.I. psygmahad extended neuropodia bearing cirri and elongate setae. The notopodia were reduced and cirri appear to have been wanting. The peculiar prostomium carried a pair of appendages.I. psygmais regarded as a pelagic polychaete.S. argutuspossessed uniramous parapodia with simple stout setae. The bilobed prostomium bore at least one pair, and perhaps three pairs, of short appendages. Type A was the largest of the Burgess Shale polychaetes and had prominent setae on at least the anterior section of the body. Type A was a sediment eater but the feeding habits of the other polychaetes are uncertain. Particular attention is given to the influence of decay on the Burgess Shale polychaetes. To place the Burgess Shale polychaetes in some geological perspective other Cambrian worms, including a polychaete from the Spence Shale of Utah, are briefly redescribed and the late Precambrian (Ediacarian) wormsDickinsonia, SprigginaandMarywadeaare assessed. Contrary to the findings of other workers, no convincing evidence for placing these latter worms in the polychaetes is forthcoming.