Haikouella

The Haikouella is a probable chordate from the Lower Cambrian beds of Xiangchiang, Yunnan, China. It is similar to the form Yunnanozoon[?] which is almost somewhat more primitive and is possibly a hemichordate. There are anatomical differences from Yunnanozoon including a larger stomach, and smaller (0.1mm) pharyngeal teeth. Haikouella does not have bones or a movable jaw, but it otherwise resembles vertebrates. Almost certain fish Haikouichthys and Myllokunmingia have been found in the same beds. Suspected Hemichordates (more primitive chordates) are also known from these deposits as well as from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale of British Columbia. Other than possible fish scales/plates from the Upper Cambrian of Wyoming, these Chinese fish are the only known pre-Ordovician vertebrates.

Haikouella is known from 305 specimens mostly from a single bed in the Maotianshan shales of Yunnan province. The animal is 20-30mm (4cm max) in length and has a head, gills, brain, notochord, well developed musculature, heart and circulatory system. It has a bent caudal projection of the notochord that might be a primitive tail fin. It might have a pair of lateral eyes. Very small (0.1mm) structures that are probably pharyngeal teeth are present in the body cavity. A few specimens display dorsal and ventral fins.

There is one known species, Haikouella lanceolata Chen, Huang, Lii.

External Links:

• A detailed sketch of Haikouella (http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/010Chordata/010.200#Haikouella)
• An extensive paper from Nature (http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v402/n6761/full/402518a0_r)