Erjiecaris
{{Short description|Extinct genus of arthropod}}
{{Speciesbox
| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|Cambrian Stage 3}}
| image = Erjiecaris.png
| image_caption = Life restoration
| genus = Erjiecaris
| parent_authority = Fu, Zhang and Budd, 2014
| species = minusculo
| authority = Fu, Zhang and Budd, 2014
}}
Erjiecaris Is an extinct genus of bivalved Cambrian arthropod, known from the Chengjiang Biota of Yunnan, China. It is only known from a single species Erjiecaris minisculo. Around {{Convert|1|cm|in}} long, It has an unusual flattened head-shield, with an elongate body with at least 19 segments and a forked tail similar to Waptia. Unlike most bivalved arthropods, its simple, unstalked eyes are placed on top of the headshield. It was likely a nektobenthic (swimming above ocean floor) deposit feeder. The relationship of Erjiecaris to other arthropods was considered uncertain in its original description.{{Cite journal |last1=Fu |first1=Dongjing |last2=Zhang |first2=Xingliang |last3=Budd |first3=Graham E. |date=2014-01-02 |title=The first dorsal-eyed bivalved arthropod and its significance for early arthropod evolution |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/11035897.2014.884627 |journal=GFF |language=en |volume=136 |issue=1 |pages=80–84 |doi=10.1080/11035897.2014.884627 |bibcode=2014GFF...136...80F |s2cid=84916641 |issn=1103-5897|url-access=subscription }} A later study suggested it was a member of Hymenocarina.{{Cite journal |last=-López |first=Alejandro Izquierdo |date=July 15, 2022 |title=Extreme multisegmentation in a giant bivalved arthropod from the Cambrian Burgess Shale |journal=iScience|volume=25 |issue=7 |page=104675 |doi=10.1016/j.isci.2022.104675 |pmid=35845166 |pmc=9283658 |bibcode=2022iSci...25j4675I |s2cid=250057171 }} Despite the head shield being portrayed as flattened in most specimens, this is likely a preservational artifact from the valves being “butterflied” out, and Erjiecaris likely looked more similar to other hymenocarines.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}