Clypecaris is genus of bivalved Cambrian arthropod known from the Chengjiang biota of Yunnan, China. The genus was initially described for the type species C. pteroidea by Hou, 1999.Hou, X.-G. New rare bivalved arthropods from the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang fauna, Yunnan, China. J. Paleontol. 73, 102–116 (1999) A second species C. serrata was described by Yang et al. in 2016. The species are primarily distinguished by the presence of a serrated edge on the front of the carapace of C. serrata. C. serrata is noted for the modification of an anterior pair of limbs into spined grasping appendages, indicating a predatory lifestyle. It is unknown whether a similar structure was present in C. pteroidea. Clypecaris is considered to likely be a member or a close relative of Hymenocarina, and is closely related to Perspicaris. As well as to Ercaicunia.
See also
Arthropod Cambrian explosion Chengjiang biota List of Chengjiang Biota species by phylum
References