Yuknessia

Phylum:Hemichordata

Genus:†Yuknessia
Walcott, 1919

Yuknessia Temporal range: Drumian, 508–507 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Fort. 2 3 4 W D G P J 10
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Hemichordata
Genus:	†Yuknessia Walcott, 1919
Type species
†Y. simplex Walcott, 1919
Species
†Y. simplex Walcott, 1919 †Y. stephenensis LoDuca et al., 2015

Yuknessia is an early pterobranch, known from the Burgess Shale^[1] and the Wheeler Shale.^[2] Long, unbranched fronds emerge from a central holdfast-like body covered in small conical plates.^[1] 23 specimens of Yuknessia are known from the Greater Phyllopod bed, where they comprise < 0.1% of the community.^[3] The genus contains two species: the type species Y. simplex and Y. stephenensis.^[2] It was originally interpreted as a green alga, and has since been reinterpreted it as a colonial pterobranch.^[2][4][5]