Science Popularization Yunnan | Fossil Notes : Haikou Yunnan cystic jellyfish

Today I want to take you to understand the Haikou Yunnan cystic jellyfish.

Haikou Yunnan cystic jellyfish is one of the representatives of plankton in the Chengjiang biota, and is also the oldest known fossil of planktonic jellyfish, which belongs to the bowl jellyfish of the Phylum of spiny cells. Fossils are very rare, and only one fossil is currently fully described, found in Haikou Ear Material Village, Kunming, Yunnan. The jellyfish fossil, which is about 2 centimeters wide, was originally classified as ctenophores, but later found that the fossil not only preserved the complete shape and tentacles of the jellyfish umbrella, but also preserved more anatomy. The body is radiatively symmetrical, consisting of two parts, the umbrella and the mouth and wrist, the umbrella is cystic or hemispherical, the ventral surface of the umbrella has a mouth, hanging over the mouth and wrist, and there are 16 tentacles on the edge of the umbrella body. It is speculated that haikou Yunnan cystic jellyfish, like living jellyfish, can sting prey through venom-energizing spines on their tentacles, and may feed on small planktonic arthropods, algae, and various planktonic juveniles.

Poster Design: Wang Meiping

Source: Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengjiang Fossil Land Natural Museum