Scathascolex

{{Short description|Extinct genus of worms}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Scathascolex 83939d.png

| image_upright = 0.5

| image_caption = Scathascolex minor. Image from Smith (2015){{Cite journal|doi=10.1111/pala.12210|title=A palaeoscolecid worm from the Burgess Shale|journal=Palaeontology|pages=973–979|year=2015|last1=Smith|first1=Martin R.|volume=58|issue=6|bibcode=2015Palgy..58..973S |s2cid=86747103 |doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|doi=10.5061/dryad.cf493|url=http://datadryad.org/resource/doi:10.5061/dryad.cf493|hdl=10255/dryad.92916 |last1=Smith|first1=Martin R.|title=Data from: A palaeoscolecid worm from the Burgess Shale. Dryad Digital Repository|year=2015|publisher=Dryad}}

| image2 = Scathascolex_anterior_reconstruction.png

| image2_caption = 3D Reconstruction of anterior end.

| fossil_range = Burgess Shale

| genus = Scathascolex

| species = minor

| authority = Smith, 2015

}}

Scathascolex is a genus of palaeoscolecid worm known from the middle Cambrian Burgess Shale. It is the only taxon in that famous locality to exhibit the phosphatic plates that characterize palaeoscolecids, and has certain unusual characteristics – it does not have the multiple sizes of tessellating plates more typical of palaeoscolecids, and has more tail hooks than is the norm. Nevertheless, it is clearly a close relative of Palaeoscolex and Wronascolex.

File:Scathascolex pharynx.png

As with the co-occurring Burgess Shale worm Ancalagon, its name is derived from one of J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional dragons, in this case Scatha.