New animals from the Burgess Shale (Middle Cambrian) and their possible significance for the understanding of the Bilateria

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Abstract
The authors describe two new animals from the Middle‐Cambrian Burgess shale. One is formally described as Metaspriggina walcotti and is probably related to the sprigginids, and the other has probable Chordate affinities. Both share an imperfect bilateral symmetry, with alternating left and right segments, an arrangement found both in the Precambrian vendozoans and in the living Acrania and Cyclostomata. The authors discuss their possible evolutionary significance and the persistence of Precambrian‐like animals well into the Middle Cambrian.

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