Walossekia

Walossekia quinquespinosa is a Cambrian genus of pancrustacean from the Orsten of Sweden.

Walossekia Temporal range:
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Clade:	Mandibulata
Clade:	Pancrustacea
Genus:	†Walossekia Müller, 1983
Species:	†W. quinquespinosa
Binomial name
†Walossekia quinquespinosa Müller, 1983

Description

Walossekia is roughly 850 micrometers long, with a large carapace covering most of its body except for the abdomen. The smooth, boat-shaped carapace has five spines on its posterior rim with the median one being largest, and a long rostrum on its anterior end. Walossekia's abdomen has no appendages except for a pair of caudal furcae roughly as long as said abdomen, with setae at their ends. The head has three specialised pairs of appendages which likely correspond to antennae and mandibles, alongside a labrum and median eye. The body of Walossekia has five serially developed pairs, the first four which form a filter apparatus whilst the last was likely still developing. Due to this, the holotype is likely still larval, and one or two larger growth stages have been recorded.

Etymology

Walossekia derives from the name of Dieter Waloßek, who helped with the reconstruction drawings within the paper. The specific name quinquespinosa translates to "five-spined", referring to the five spines on the posterior rim of the carapace.