Stanleycaris
Encyclopedia
Stanleycaris is an extinct, monotypic
genus
of anomalocaridid which existed in Canada
, during the middle Cambrian
(Cambrian Series 3). It was first named by Jean-Bernard Caron, Robert R. Gaines, M. Gabriela Mángano, Michael Streng and Allison C. Daley in 2010
and the type species is Stanleycaris hirpex. Stanleycaris described from the Stephen Formation
near the Stanley Glacier
Burgess Shale
locality and also informally reported from Mount Odaray.
Its 1–3 cm-long appendages
are the most commonly found component, and comprise 11 podomeres with a row of steeply-angled double-pointed spines on their upper surface, and five curved spiny blades protruding from the inner surface. Aside from the double-pointed spines, the appendages resemble those of Hurdia
or Laggania
in their overal form. Peytoias are sometimes associated with the appendages; these have a square central opening. One specimen also appears to include an associated Hurdia
-like carapace.
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of anomalocaridid which existed in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, during the middle Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
(Cambrian Series 3). It was first named by Jean-Bernard Caron, Robert R. Gaines, M. Gabriela Mángano, Michael Streng and Allison C. Daley in 2010
2010 in paleontology
-Anomalocaridids:-Newly named crustaceans:-Newly named insects:* A new family, Cascopleciidae, is published by Poinar Jr.* A new family of ceraphronoid Hymenopters, Radiophronidae, is published by Ortega-Blanco, Rasnitsyn, and Delclòs....
and the type species is Stanleycaris hirpex. Stanleycaris described from the Stephen Formation
Stephen Formation
The Stephen Formation is a middle Cambrian unit exposed in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia. It is famous for the exceptional preservation of soft-bodied fossils: the Burgess Shale biota...
near the Stanley Glacier
Stanley Glacier
The Stanley Glacier locality is an exposure of the "thin" Stephen formation exhibiting soft-tissue preservation. Fossils were discovered by a hiker who reported the find to Parks Canada; this brought the site to the attention of scientists who were able to study the site and describe the new biota...
Burgess Shale
Burgess Shale
The Burgess Shale Formation, located in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, is one of the world's most celebrated fossil fields, and the best of its kind. It is famous for the exceptional preservation of the soft parts of its fossils...
locality and also informally reported from Mount Odaray.
Its 1–3 cm-long appendages
Great appendage
Great appendages are large claw-like appendages which attach to the heads of the "great appendage arthropods", a group whose monophyly is debated, but which includes the anomalocaridids...
are the most commonly found component, and comprise 11 podomeres with a row of steeply-angled double-pointed spines on their upper surface, and five curved spiny blades protruding from the inner surface. Aside from the double-pointed spines, the appendages resemble those of Hurdia
Hurdia
Hurdia victoria is an extinct species of anomalocaridid that lived 500 million years ago during the Cambrian era. It is part of the ancestral lineage that led to Arthropods and is related to Anomalocaris.-Description:...
or Laggania
Laggania
Laggania cambria was a species of Anomalocarid that lived in the Cambrian period. Its two mouth appendages had long bristle-like spines, it had no fan tail, and its short stalked eyes were behind its mouth appendages...
in their overal form. Peytoias are sometimes associated with the appendages; these have a square central opening. One specimen also appears to include an associated Hurdia
Hurdia
Hurdia victoria is an extinct species of anomalocaridid that lived 500 million years ago during the Cambrian era. It is part of the ancestral lineage that led to Arthropods and is related to Anomalocaris.-Description:...
-like carapace.