What is the Qingjiang biota?
Q: What is the Qingjiang biota?
A: The Qingjiang biota is a newly discovered collection of fossils from the Cambrian period, found in China's Hubei Province near the Danshui River.
Q: What types of fossils were found in the Qingjiang biota?
A: The fossils found in the Qingjiang biota include many soft-bodied animals such as jellyfish, sea anemones, sponges, arthropods, and algae, as well as various kinds of aquatic worms.
Q: Were any internal body structures preserved in the Qingjiang biota specimens?
A: Yes, some specimens of the Qingjiang biota include preserved internal body structures such as mouths, guts, and eyes, thanks to fossilized soft tissues.
Q: When were the remains of the Qingjiang biota dated?
A: The remains of the Qingjiang biota are dated as being approximately 518 million years old.
Q: Were any previously unknown species found among the Qingjiang biota specimens?
A: Yes, approximately half of the species found in the Qingjiang biota were previously unknown.
Q: Where exactly in China is the Qingjiang biota located?
A: The Qingjiang biota is located in the Chinese province of Hubei, near the Danshui River.
Q: How many fossil specimens were collected from the Qingjiang biota in 2019?
A: More than 20,000 fossil specimens were collected from the Qingjiang biota in 2019.
