| Cathaymyrus | |
|---|---|
| C. diadexus (top) andVetulocystis (bottom) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Genus: | †Cathaymyrus Shu, Conway Morris & Zhang 1996[2] |
| Type species | |
| Cathaymyrus diadexus Shu, Conway Morris & Zhang 1996 | |
| Species | |
| |
Cathaymyrus is a genus of EarlyCambrianchordate known from theChengjiang biota in Yunnan Province, China.[4] Both species have a long segmented body with no distinctive head. The segments resemble v-shaped muscle blocks found incephalochordates such asAmphioxus. A long linear impression runs along the "back" of the body looking something like a chordatenotochord.[citation needed]
While some authors have suggested that the genus is a cephalochordate and closely related to living lancelets, other authors have disputed this due to the poor preservation of the head region, considering its placement within Chordata uncertain.[5]