''Microschedia'' is an enigmatic fossil

bilateria The Bilateria or bilaterians are animals with bilateral symmetry as an embryo, i.e. having a left and a right side that are mirror images of each other. This also means they have a head and a tail (anterior-posterior axis) as well as a belly and ...

n known from four specimens from Lower Cambrian Amouslek Formation deposits in Morocco.

Morphology

The fossils are approximately discoid, and covered with a net-like pattern. Fine hair-like projections extend beyond the edge of this almost-flat, firm (but non-mineralized) "shell", which bears no trace of muscle scars.

Affinity

Although there are problems with both brachiopod and cnidarian interpretations, no other animal group provides a good match for these fossils. An affinity with the stem-group brachiopod ''

Mickwitzia Mickwitziids are a Cambrian group of shelly fossils with originally phosphatic valves, belonging to the Brachiopod stem group, and exemplified by the genus ''Mickwitzia'' – the other genera are ''Heliomedusa'' (a possible junior synonym of ''Mi ...

'' is currently considered to be the most likely interpretation for this fossil. The enigmatic Cambrian and Ordovician animals ''

Heliomedusa Mickwitziids are a Cambrian group of shelly fossils with originally phosphatic valves, belonging to the Brachiopod stem group, and exemplified by the genus ''Mickwitzia'' – the other genera are ''Heliomedusa'' (a possible junior synonym of ''Mi ...

'', ''

Marocella ''Marocella'' is a conical shelly fossil of uncertain affinity (probably a mollusc) known from Cambrian strata of Europe, Morocco, Australia and Antarctica. Morphology Limpet-like ''Marocella '' is a low conical shell with concentric ridges tha ...

'' and '' Conchopeltis'' warrant comparison, although again large differences exist between these taxa.

References

{{taxonbar, from1=Q6840015 Enigmatic prehistoric animal genera Cambrian invertebrates