AN ANCIENT BRACHIOPOD WITH AN ORGANIC INTEGUMENT FROM THE LOWER CAMBRIAN OF MONGOLIA

Abstract

A new bivalved organism, identified as the earliest brachiopod Zhegallina antiqua gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Atdabanian Beds of the Dzun-Artsa locality. The inner surface of one specimen has a cast of a soft body that shows clear traces of the muscular system. The primary composition of the integument, its microstructure, and probable relationships between early brachiopods and halkieriids are discussed.