Jianshanopodia, Liu, Shu, Han, Zhang & Zhang, 2006

Liu, Jianni, Shu, Degan, Han, Jian, Zhang, Zhifei & Zhang, Xingliang, 2006, A large xenusiid lobopod with complex appendages from the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 51 (2), pp. 215-222 : 217

Genus Jianshanopodia nov.

Type species: Jianshanopodia decora gen. et sp. nov.

Derivation of name: From Jianshan, a small mountain, alluding to the locality where the specimens are collected, and Greek pus, leg.

Diagnosis.—A large animal, body length (excluding appendages) probably reaching 220 mm. The mouth situated terminally; a pair of strong frontal appendages equipped with a series of cuneiform plates. The trunk region with at least nine segments, each bearing a pair of complex appendages with two rows of tubercles on their dorsal side, with tree−like or lamellate branches protruding from the tubercles. Three lobes arranged into a fan form a tail.

Jianshanopodia differs from all other representatives of the Xenusiidae by having the complex appendages and the tail

Ą fan. It differs from Xenusion Pompeckj, 1927 in its frontal appendages, the pharyngeal structure, and the complex appendages; and from Hadranax Budd and Peel, 1998 in its appendages with branches, the pairs of diverticula instead of large trunk nodes, and the tail fan; Jianshanopodia shares with the stem group arthropods Kerygmachela Budd, 1993 , Pambdelurion Budd, 1997 , and Anomalocaris Chen, Ramsköld, and Zhou, 1994 the presence of similar frontal appendages, but easily distinguishable from them in its appendages without lateral flaps, and Jianshanopodia differs from Aysheaia Walcott, 1911 in having complex appendages and the tail fan.