What specific structural features found on *Wiwaxia* help define the genus according to preservation quality?
Answer
Delicate, scale-like sclerites
The delicate, scale-like sclerites that covered the body of *Wiwaxia* are specifically mentioned as a feature that helps define the genus. The exceptional preservation quality often found at sites like the Burgess Shale is what allows researchers to study these fine anatomical details. These sclerites contrast with other fossil evidence where preservation might be less detailed, such as in formations like the Kinzers or Polish finds. Analyzing these structures provides critical information about the animal's external defense mechanisms or covering, which is a hallmark trait used for its taxonomic identification.
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?