What insight does the comparison between Burgess Shale and Kinzers Formation preservation offer about *Wiwaxia*?
The impact of preservation quality on deducible anatomical detail
The primary contrast in deductions about *Wiwaxia* stems from the difference in preservation quality between the exceptionally preserved Canadian sites, like the Burgess Shale, and formations offering slightly less exquisite preservation, such as the Kinzers Formation in the US or the Polish finds. While the Canadian and Chinese sites yield exquisite anatomical detail, often including impressions of soft tissues or clear sclerite morphology, the less exceptional preservation elsewhere might obscure these finer points. However, the mere presence in the US and Poland confirms that the successful body plan populated diverse environments, even if the resulting fossil evidence is less detailed regarding specific anatomy.
