lobopods

Lobopods are a group of extinct, elongated, segmented, leg-bearing animals that lived from the Cambrian to the Carboniferous periods. They are characterized by their soft, unsegmented bodies covered in a cuticle and numerous pairs of fleshy, unjointed appendages called lobopods, from which they derive their name. These appendages were typically thick and cylindrical, often ending in claws. The exact taxonomic position of lobopods has been a subject of debate, but they are generally considered to be stem-group arthropods or stem-group onychophorans, meaning they are related to arthropods and velvet worms but diverged before the full evolution of these groups.

Fossils of lobopods are found in various Lagerstätten, including the Burgess Shale in Canada and the Chengjiang biota in China, preserving soft tissues that are rarely fossilized. Notable examples include Hallucigenia, Microdictyon, and Aysheaia. These fossils reveal a diverse range of morphologies and lifestyles. Some lobopods, like Hallucigenia, were thought to be benthic and possibly detritivores or grazers, while others may have been more active predators. Their segmented bodies and paired appendages suggest a relationship with the lineage leading to segmented worms and arthropods. The study of lobopods provides crucial insights into the early evolution of animal body plans and the diversification of life during the Cambrian explosion.