| Microschedia Temporal range: Lower Cambrian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
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| Microschedia (Image source: Geyer 1994) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Clade: | Bilateria |
| (unranked): | incertae sedis |
| Genus: | †Microschedia Geyer, 1994 |
| Species: | †M. amphitrite |
| Binomial name | |
| †Microschedia amphitrite Geyer, 1994 | |
Microschedia is an enigmatic fossil bilaterian known from four specimens from Lower Cambrian Amouslek Formation deposits in Morocco.
Morphology
The fossils are approximately discoid, and covered with a net-like pattern. Fine hair-like projections extend beyond the edge of this almost-flat, firm (but non-mineralized) "shell", which bears no trace of muscle scars.
Affinity
Although there are problems with both brachiopod and cnidarian interpretations, no other animal group provides a good match for these fossils. An affinity with the stem-group brachiopod Mickwitzia is currently considered to be the most likely interpretation for this fossil.
The enigmatic Cambrian and Ordovician animals Heliomedusa, Marocella and Conchopeltis warrant comparison, although again large differences exist between these taxa.
References
- ^ Geyer, G. (1994). "An Enigmatic Bilateral Fossil from the Lower Cambrian of Morocco". Journal of Paleontology. 68 (4): 710–716. doi:10.1017/s0022336000026147. JSTOR 1306138.
- Skovsted, C. B.; Brock, G. A.; Holmer, L. E.; Paterson, J. R. (2009). "First report of the early Cambrian stem group brachiopod Mickwitzia from East Gondwana". Gondwana Research. 16 (1): 145–150. Bibcode:2009GondR..16..145S. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2009.02.002.
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Microschedia | |