Bredocaris

Bredocaris Temporal range: Upper Cambrian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Composite image of three fossil specimens of Bredocaris
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Clade:	Pancrustacea
Order:	†Orstenocarida Müller & Walossek, 1988
Family:	†Bredocarididae Müller & Walossek, 1988
Genus:	†Bredocaris Müller, 1983
Species:	†B. admirabilis
Binomial name
†Bredocaris admirabilis Müller, 1983

Bredocaris is an extinct genus of pancrustacean arthropod from the Cambrian Orsten of Sweden. The genus contains a single species, Bredocaris admirabilis, in turn the only member of the family Bredocarididae and the order Orstenocarida.

Etymology

Bredocaris is named for the farm of St. Bredegården located north of the type locality, and for the Greek word χαρίς (kharís), meaning "crab." The species name admirabilis from the Latin word meaning "admirable" derives from the extremely delicate preservation of the specimen.[1]

Description

Bredocaris is roughly 800 micrometers long, with the carapace roughly half as long, rounded and fused with the four anteriormost limb-bearing segments, and has a possible median eye consisting of two blisters connected by a bridge with a median pore. The front two appendage pairs, which may represent antennae, are both different to the posterior ten pairs of appendages which seem to form a filter apparatus.[1] The labrum is large and noticeably projects from the body anterior of the molar process. The abdominal segment has a pair of furcae, alongside a tiny spine dorsoterminally above the anus. Six distinct larval stages of Bredocaris are known from more than 30 specimens, which alongside other features such as the complete filter apparatus and shape of the fourth appendage pair seems to indicate that the final stage was the adult form of this genus.[1]

Distribution

All specimens of Bredocaris so far have been found in Västergötland, Sweden near a road between Stenstorp and Dala.[1]

References

1. Müller, Klaus J. (1983). "Crustacea with preserved soft parts from the Upper Cambrian of Sweden". Lethaia. 16 (2): 93–109. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1983.tb01704.x.