{{Short description|Extinct genus of arthropods}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Kangacaris zhangi.jpg | image_caption = ''Kangacaris zhangi'' | fossil_range = {{fossil range|517|517|517 Ma, Botomian}} | authority = Paterson ''et al.'', 2010 | taxon = Kangacaris | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = * ''K. zhangi'' <small>Paterson ''et al.'', 2010</small> (type species) * ''K. shui'' <small>Zhang, Fu & Dai, 2012</small> }}
'''''Kangacaris''''' is an extinct genus of soft-shelled trilobite-like arthropod of the nektaspid order from the Lower Cambrian (Botomian). ''K. zhangi'' is known from South Australia,<ref name="paterson2010"/> and ''K. shui'' from South-West China.<ref name='Zhang'>{{cite journal|last1=Zhang|first1=X.-L.|last2=Fu|first2=D.-J.|last3=Dai|first3=T.|year=2012|title=A new species of Kangacaris (Arthropoda) from the Chengjiang lagerstätte, lower Cambrian, southwest China|journal=Alcheringa|volume=36|issue=1 |pages=23–25|issn=0311-5518|doi=10.1080/03115518.2011.576532|bibcode=2012Alch...36...23Z |s2cid=129804458 }}</ref>
== Etymology == The generic name is derived from "Kanga", a contraction of Kangaroo Island, and Latin ''{{lang|la|caris}}'' ("shrimp"). The specific name of the type species honors the Chinese palaeontologist Xingliang Zhang.<ref name="paterson2010">{{cite journal|author1=John R. Paterson |author2=Gregory D. Edgecombe |author3=Diego C. García-Bellido |author4=James B. Jago |author5=James G. Gehling |year=2010 |title=Nektaspid arthropods from the Lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale ''Lagerstätte'', South Australia, with a reassessment of lamellipedian relationships |journal=Palaeontology |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=377–402 |url=http://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources-rx/files/paterson-et-al-2010-emucaridids-94061.pdf |doi=10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.00932.x|bibcode=2010Palgy..53..377P |doi-access=free }}</ref>
== Description == The dorsal exoskeleton of ''Kangacaris'' is inverted egg-shaped, about {{convert|3|cm|in}} long and {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide. The axis is {{frac|1|3}}× as wide as the body and only slightly raised. The semi-circular headshield (or cephalon) is about {{frac|2|3}}× as long as the tailshield (pygidium), and in between them three short thoracic body segments (somites). The lateral margin of the pygidium is progressively angling towards the axis, ending in the slightest hint of a point. Twelve to thirteen furrows are most distinct on the axis, and becoming indiscernible near the border. The border of the cephalon is about {{frac|1|4}}× as long (axially) as the thoracal somites, and the border of the pygidium is about {{frac|1|2}}× as long as the somites. This border has about 17 regularly spaced ridges perpendicular to the rim.<ref name="paterson2010"/> ''K. shui'' has a <!---smaller hypostome, --->better defined and narrower axis, more arched posterior margin of the cephalic shield, more posterolaterally deflected pleural areas of the thoracic segments, and smaller pygidium than ''K. zhangi''.<ref name='Zhang'/>
=== Differences from ''Emucaris fava'' === ''Kangacaris'' differs from ''Emucaris fava'' in having three thorax segments, while ''Emucaris'' has four. When disregarding the border, ''Kangacaris'' has an inverted egg-shape, while the pygidium of ''Emucaris'' is a triangle with a rounded termination. The axis of the pygidium of ''Kangacaris'' is {{frac|1|3}} of the width of the body and clearly segmented, while in ''Emucaris'' it is one fifth and has a pattern of polygons of approximately equal area. The axis of the pygidium of ''Emucaris'' terminates in a spine that ends at the outer rim of the border, while ''Kangacaris'' lacks a terminal spine.
== Distribution == Fossils of ''K. zhangi'' were collected from the Emu Bay Shale of Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Remains of ''K. shui'' have been found at the Maotianshan Shales, Yunnan, South-West China.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Artiopoda}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q16983865}}
Category:Nektaspida Category:Artiopod genera Category:Prehistoric arthropods of Australia Category:Emu Bay Shale