Haikouichthys

Name: Haikouichthys‭ (‬Fish from Haikou‭).
Phonetic: Hi-koo-ick-thees.
Named By: Luo,‭ ‬et al‭ ‬1999.
Classification: Chordata,‭ ‬Craniata,‭ ‬Agnatha.
Species: C.‭ ‬ercaicunensis (type).
Type: Exact feeding behaviour unkown.
Size: ‬2.5‭ ‬centimeters.
Known locations: China,‭ ‬Qiongzhusi Formation.
Time period: Tommotian of the Cambrian.
Fossil representation: One preserved specimen.

       Haikouichthys is one of the earliest fish discovered and by extension,‭ ‬earliest vertebrates.‭ ‬At the time of the discovery the first fish were thought to have evolved‭ ‬50‭ ‬million years later.‭ ‬Haikouichthys had between six to nine girls,‭ ‬and what appears to be a notochord.‭ ‬A dorsal fin runs almost the entire length of the body from the back of the head,‭ ‬curving all the way around to the rear underside. There are‭ ‬13‭ ‬circular structures along the base but their function to date is only speculative.

Further reading
- Head and backbone of the Early Cambrian vertebrate Haikouichthys - D. G. Shu, S. C. Morris, J. Han, Z. F. Zhang, K. Yasui, P. Janvier, L. Chen, X. L. Zhang et al. - 2003.
- A paleontological perspective of vertebrate origin. - Chinese Science Bulletin 2003 Vol. 48 No. 8. - D. G. Shu - 2003.
- Evidence for a single median fin-fold and tail in the Lower Cambrian vertebrate, Haikouichthys ercaicunensis - X. G. Zhang & X.G.Hou - 2004.

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