To which geological epoch is the well-known species *Wiwaxia corrugata* definitively associated?
Answer
The Middle Cambrian epoch
The definitive temporal classification for *Wiwaxia corrugata* is the Middle Cambrian epoch. This classification is crucial for paleontologists as it places the organism within a specific window of the early animal evolution timeline. Understanding this epoch allows researchers to compare *Wiwaxia*'s development and dispersal rates against the backdrop of the Cambrian explosion. The text notes that specimens from different locations, such as the Chengjiang biota in China, can sometimes be slightly younger than those from the classic Canadian deposits, indicating that even within the Middle Cambrian, there were small temporal separations across continents that are studied to track evolutionary spread.
Related Questions
To which geological epoch is the well-known species *Wiwaxia corrugata* definitively associated?What is the type locality, the original place where *Wiwaxia* was formally described?What specific structural features found on *Wiwaxia* help define the genus according to preservation quality?Which formation in the United States evidences the broader spread of *Wiwaxia* across the paleo-continent of Laurentia?Which major fossil site in Yunnan, China, represents another critical window into Middle Cambrian life for *Wiwaxia*?Fossils attributed to *Wiwaxia* found in Europe confirm its dispersal across which ancient continental plate?What potential ecological role is suggested for *Wiwaxia* based on its successful global dispersal?*Wiwaxia*'s successful dispersal across Laurentia, South China, and Baltica demonstrates its ability to colonize which type of ancient environment?What insight does the comparison between Burgess Shale and Kinzers Formation preservation offer about *Wiwaxia*?What phenomenon is highlighted by *Wiwaxia*'s presence in both Laurentia (North America) and the region that became China?