Martinssonia
Extinct Cambrian arthropod
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Martinssonia is an extinct genus of Cambrian arthropod from the Orsten Lagerstätte.
| Martinssonia Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Genus: | †Martinssonia Walossek & Müller, 1986 |
| Species: | †M. elongata |
| Binomial name | |
| †Martinssonia elongata Walossek & Müller, 1986 | |
Description
Martinssonia is a small (roughly 1.5 mm long) arthropod, with eight pairs of appendages and ten segments including the eyeless head. It has a pair of antennae, twelve biramous appendages on its head and front two body segments and a final pair of uniramous appendages on its third segment. Martinssonia also seems to have a pleotelson, similar to modern crustacean larvae.[1]
Ecology
Martinssonia was presumably a benthic detritivore, stirring up food particles from the seafloor.[1]
Etymology
Martinssonia is named for Anders Martinsson, a former Professor of Palaeobiology at Uppsala University in Sweden. The species name, elongata, is derived from its long trunk.[1]