AUTHOR=Zhang Yanan , Liu Yunhuan , Shao Tiequan , Qin Jiachen 

TITLE=New Qinscyphus material from the Fortunian of South China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Earth Science

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1038686

DOI=10.3389/feart.2023.1038686

ISSN=2296-6463

ABSTRACT=<p>Microscopic medusozoans from the Cambrian Fortunian stage of South China are well known for their exceptionally preserved embryos and elongated tubes. However, additional details of their morphology remain unclear. This paper describes new medusozoan fossils showing the whole apical complement and covering the morphological integrity of <italic>Qinscyphus</italic>. The apical part of <italic>Qinscyphus</italic> is considered to be soft during early ontogeny, and the inverted pentagonal pyramid may gradually form with growth and development. This discovery of the apical complement of <italic>Qinscyphus</italic> is novel and essential to complement the external morphology of early medusozoan fossils. More importantly, the new specimens have different annuli with triangular thickenings, providing a more comprehensive view on the developmental sequence of <italic>Qinscyphus</italic>. Therefore, this work allows a better understanding of early medusozoans ecology and evolution.</p>