CINDARELLA AND THE ARACHNATE CLADE XANDARELLIDA (ARTHROPODA, EARLY CAMBRIAN) FROM CHINA

Cindarella eucalla Chen et al. from the Early Cambrian Chengjiang faun a is the closest relative of Xandarella spectaculum Hou el al. Cindare lla and Xandarella are united as Xandarellida, a further component of Cambrian arachnate diversity. Diagnostic of Xandarellida are ventral e yes, a posterior extension of the head shield that covers anterior tru nk segments, and multiple somites per tergite in the rear part of the trunk. Somites and tergites are decoupled throughout the trunk in Cind arella. The bilobate structure of the exopod in xandarellids is widesp read throughout the Arachnata.