Muscle attachment structures on multifunctional armour of Cambrian lobopodians

Abstract Cambrian lobopodians are pivotal to understanding panarthropod early evolution, yet the functional significance of their diverse sclerites remains poorly understood. Although these discrete sclerites have generally been accepted as protective structures, whether they served as attachment sites for lobopod muscles is still under debate. Here, we report the first description of regularly distributed pit‐like microstructures on the underside of net‐like plates of Microdictyon sp. from the Shuijingtuo Formation (Cambrian Stage 3), Shaanxi, China. A concentric cluster of pit‐like microstructures is located on the internal surface of each node on the plate. Through comparative analysis with extant tardigrades, onychophorans and arthropods, alongside similar fossil structures interpreted as muscle attachment sites, we suggest that these pit‐like microstructures are attachment points for leg muscles. The plates might also provide protection for underlying musculature and probably housed specialized organs beneath their sealed holes. This study suggests that the plates of Microdictyon evolved through the integration of multiple functions, providing new insights into the functional morphology and ecology of Cambrian armoured lobopodians and the early evolution of panarthropods.

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Journal
Papers in Palaeontology
Published
2026-10-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70138
Primary Topic
Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Muscle attachment structures on multifunctional armour of Cambrian lobopodians

Jian Han, Ji‐Hoon Kihm, Xianzhi Pei, Bing Pan et al.
Papers in Palaeontology
Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
article

Muscle attachment structures on multifunctional armour of Cambrian lobopodians

Jian Han, Ji‐Hoon Kihm, Xianzhi Pei, Bing Pan, Jianni Liu, Junfeng Guo, Qiang Ou, Yaqin Qiang, Jiaxin Peng, Zuchen Song, Boyao Zhang, Huali Lyu, Xiaofang Zhao, Guoxiang Li
article en

Abstract

Abstract Cambrian lobopodians are pivotal to understanding panarthropod early evolution, yet the functional significance of their diverse sclerites remains poorly understood. Although these discrete sclerites have generally been accepted as protective structures, whether they served as attachment sites for lobopod muscles is still under debate. Here, we report the first description of regularly distributed pit‐like microstructures on the underside of net‐like plates of Microdictyon sp. from the Shuijingtuo Formation (Cambrian Stage 3), Shaanxi, China. A concentric cluster of pit‐like microstructures is located on the internal surface of each node on the plate. Through comparative analysis with extant tardigrades, onychophorans and arthropods, alongside similar fossil structures interpreted as muscle attachment sites, we suggest that these pit‐like microstructures are attachment points for leg muscles. The plates might also provide protection for underlying musculature and probably housed specialized organs beneath their sealed holes. This study suggests that the plates of Microdictyon evolved through the integration of multiple functions, providing new insights into the functional morphology and ecology of Cambrian armoured lobopodians and the early evolution of panarthropods.

Papers in PalaeontologyVol. 12(6)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), China University of Petroleum, Beijing (CN), Chang'an University (CN), China University of Geosciences (Beijing) (CN), Northwest University (CN), Gansu Academy of Sciences (CN), Korea Polar Research Institute (KR), Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Korea Polar Research Institute, Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province, National Key Research and Development Program of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 17%
Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
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