Paleontology and science illustration, and feathering ALL the dinosaurs
Vertebrates are by far the most numerous and diverse group of chordates today, with over 65,000 known species including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Genetic studies show that they’re closely related to the weird bag-like tunicates, and their shared common ancestor was probably something lancelet-like.
And the earliest true vertebrates would have looked something like Haikouichthys ercaicunensis.
Continue reading “Cambrian Explosion Month #16: Phylum Chordata – Vertebrata”Myllokunmingia, from the Early Cambrian of China (~530 mya).
Just under 3cm long (or just over 1″), this tiny animal seems to have been a very close relative of the true vertebrates – almost a vertebrate itself but not quite there yet. A single known fossil specimen shows evidence of a cartilage skull and skeletal elements, five or six gill pouches, a large sail-like dorsal fin, and paired finfolds on its underside.
