Luolishaniidae
Extinct family of worm-like animals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Luolishaniida (formerly Luolishaniidae)[1] are an order of Cambrian lobopodians with anterior 5 or 6 pairs of setiferous lobopods.[2][3][4] Most luolishaniids also have posterior lobopods each with a hooked claws, and thorn-shaped sclerites arranged as three or more per trunk segment.[5][2][4] The type genus is based on Luolishania longicruris Hou and Chen, 1989, from the Chengjiang Lagerstatte, South China.[1] They are presumed to have been benthic suspension or filter feeders.[5][2][3][4][6] New specimens of the previously enigmatic Facivermis show that it was a sessile tube-dweller, and part of this group.[3]
| Luolishaniidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
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| (1) Collinsovermis, (2) Luolishania (= Miraluolishania), (3) Ovatiovermis, (4) Facivermis | |
| Video of Ovatiovermis anchored to a hold and filter feeding using its arms | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Clade: | Panarthropoda |
| Phylum: | †Lobopodia |
| Clade: | †Hallucishaniids |
| Family: | †Luolishaniidae |
| Families and genera | |
| |
Description
Classification
A 2023 analysis concluded, on the basis of numerous morphological similarities, that members of Luolishaniida might be the closest known relatives of tardigrades.[7] This was again confirmed in the 2025 redescription of Palaeocampa anthrax.[8]
Internal phylogeny
Below is an internal phylogeny of the order after Knecht et al. 2025:[8]
| Luolishaniida |
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External phylogeny
Phylogeny of Panarthropoda and various lobopodians after Knecht et al. 2025:[8]
| Panarthropoda |
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| "Lobopodia" |
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