A long-headed Cambrian soft-bodied vertebrate from the American Great Basin region

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Paper Summary

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Finless Fish Fossil Found in Utah! (But just one, so take it with a grain of salt)

A new soft-bodied vertebrate fossil, *Nuucichthys rhynchocephalus*, was discovered in the Cambrian Marjum Formation of Utah. This fish-like creature lacked fins and had an elongated head. This discovery suggests limited swimming abilities and adds to the growing evidence for the wide distribution of early, finless vertebrates in Laurentia during the Cambrian.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Weaknesses

Single Specimen

The single specimen of Nuucichthys rhynchocephalus available limits the study's ability to characterize the species fully. Variability within the species cannot be ascertained from a single specimen. Rare and unusual specimens can sometimes be taphonomic artifacts rather than true representatives of the population.

Taphonomic biases

Fossil preservation can lead to misinterpretations of anatomy due to various taphonomic processes such as decay, compression, and distortion. This can lead to inaccurate reconstructions and phylogenetic interpretations.

Incomplete preservation

The lack of preserved notochords and the ambiguity surrounding the dorsal branchial bars introduce uncertainty into interpretations of key anatomical features.

Rating Explanation

This study presents a valuable discovery of a new, finless stem-vertebrate fossil from the Cambrian period, providing valuable insights into early vertebrate evolution and the biodiversity of the Cambrian Great Basin. The study uses robust phylogenetic analysis to place the new species within the vertebrate stem lineage. While limited by the availability of only a single specimen and the inherent limitations of fossil preservation, the study acknowledges these constraints and presents its interpretations cautiously. The arguments for the absence of fins and the presence of specific anatomical features, despite the possibility of taphonomic bias, are well-reasoned and based on comparisons with decay patterns observed in modern taxa. The paper significantly expands our understanding of early vertebrates but could be strengthened by further discoveries.

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