GRI #638

• Diandongia pista is a brachiopod, or lamp shell.

• It had a phosphatic shell of two valves, somewhat like a clam, but with differences in the shape of the valves and in the body structure.

• Diandongia has been found only in Cambrian sediments, most commonly in the famous Chengjiang Fauna of Yunnan, China, but has also been collected in South Australia.

• It probably lived on the soft muddy or sandy surface, and anchored itself with its long, fleshy pedicle, which is seen in the photograph.

• It had a complex, spiral feeding system that trapped particles from the water. Brachiopods similar to Diandongia are somewhat uncommon, but are still found living in many parts of the world today.