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Soft tissues of the trilobite Palaeolenus douvillei from the early Cambrian Guanshan Biota, South China

Zhang, Yilei1; Liu, Jianni2

Published Mar 24, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.76hdr7t97

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Abstract

Trilobites, iconic ancient arthropods that endured throughout the Paleozoic Era, are represented by a great number of fossils and a high species richness. However, only a very small number of taxa have their soft tissues preserved, a consequence of which is that the morphology and ecology of the majority of trilobites have not been specifically determined, even though the morphology of their exoskeletons is well studied. Fortunately, modern technologies, e.g., Micro-CT and μ-XRF, provide non-destructive methods to unveil the soft tissues of fossils that might be buried in rocks. Here, we use Micro-CT and μ-XRF to make a detailed study on exceptionally preserved specimens of Palaeolenus douvillei from the Guanshan Biota. The uniramous antennae, four pairs of post-antennal cephalic appendages, 13–15 thoracic appendages, and at least two pygidial appendages underneath the dorsal shield were revealed for the first time. Additionally, we observed that the hypostome and labrum were differentiated in P. douvillei, and this species possesses both typical trilobite digestive systems—namely the crop and digestive glands—simultaneously within a single individual. Based on the combined evidence of morphological features and phylogenetic analysis, it is reasonable to place P. douvillei within the family Palaeolenidae, thereby contributing new perspectives to the understanding of broader trilobite evolution.