Fossil Friday: Haikouichthys
This is Haikouichthys eracaicunensis. It was first described in 1999 after it was discovered in Yunnan, Cina in Cambrian-age rocks. Oh...look at that. I am still talking about Cambrian animals.
It is only about an inch long and narrowly built. It has identifiable eyes, cranial cartilages, between six and nine gill arches, possible nasal sacs and otic capsules. It's even possible its brain had the same major divisions found in extant vertebrates.
There have been debates on whether a notochord was found but there are numerous myomeres indicate it is a chordate.
So, it is agreed that it is a chordate and even an early craniate but can we narrow it down even more? Some scientists think we can. Many believe it might be one of the earliest fish. There's still not a lot of information on this animal bu maybe one day we'll find more, better preserved Haikouichthys that will give us a better picture. Until then, fossilize you later!
