Walossekia quinquespinosa is a Cambrian species of arthropod from the Orsten of Sweden. It is the only species in the genus Walossekia.
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, alongside a labrum and median eye. The body of Walossekia has five serially developed pairs, the first four of 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.
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