Composite showing a segmented Yilingia fossil at left, an elongated red artistic reconstruction diagonally through the centre, and its sedimentary trace at right.
Institution-supplied composite fossil photographs and explicitly artistic reconstruction

Composite showing a segmented Yilingia fossil at left, an elongated red artistic reconstruction diagonally through the centre, and its sedimentary trace at right.

NIGPAS, supplied by Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters; Yilingia spiciformis body fossil, reconstruction and trace, accompanying2019 study DOI10.1038/s41586-019-1522-7 · Institution-supplied licensed content; item explicitly states Usage Restrictions: None. No CC or public-domain status asserted. · Image source

Yilingia spiciformis: fossil at left, artistic reconstruction in the middle and trace at right. Image credit: NIGPAS.

Overview

Yilingia had repeated three-lobed segments: a central unit and two rearward-directed lateral lobes. Reported specimens reach 27 cm long. The Shibantan limestone sample contained 35 body fossils and 13 traces. No distinctive head was recognized; apparent limb-joint structures could instead reflect preservation.

Specimen NIGP-166253 joins a body to a 151 mm trail, interpreted as its final movement. Sediment displacement and matching body impressions support this association. Other trails are less securely attributable. The authors infer a mobile bilaterian, possibly related to annelids or panarthropods, without settling its position. Their 551-539 million-year interval constrains the formation, rather than dating an individual animal directly.

Bilateral symmetryRepeated trilobate segmentsMovement-trail association
01

Origins & earliest records

Named by Chen, Zhou, Yuan and Xiao in 2019.

02

Evidence & interpretation

Body fossils, counterparts, thin sections and associated sediment traces.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Death march of a segmented and trilobate bilaterian elucidates early animal evolution

    Zhe Chen, Chuanming Zhou, Xunlai Yuan and Shuhai Xiao · 2019

    Nature 573, 412-415; supplementary information sections 1-8, pp. 1-14. Main abstract and data availability inspected; main subscription text not read.

Family, evolution & connections

Taxonomic classification

A hierarchy of classified groups, not a chain of direct ancestors.

  1. GenusYilingia
  2. SpeciesYilingia spiciformis

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. ResearchChen et al. 2019 primary description and public supplementResearch access: 2026-10-05
  2. ResearchAuthor-provided supplementary descriptionResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

Institution-supplied composite fossil photographs and explicitly artistic reconstruction

Composite showing a segmented Yilingia fossil at left, an elongated red artistic reconstruction diagonally through the centre, and its sedimentary trace at right.

NIGPAS, supplied by Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters; Yilingia spiciformis body fossil, reconstruction and trace, accompanying2019 study DOI10.1038/s41586-019-1522-7 · Institution-supplied licensed content; item explicitly states Usage Restrictions: None. No CC or public-domain status asserted. · Image source

Yilingia spiciformis: fossil at left, artistic reconstruction in the middle and trace at right. Image credit: NIGPAS.

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