The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China: The Flowering of Early Animal Life

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Summary: The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China
Review: "The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China: The Flowering of Animal Life" written by Hou Xian-Guang, Richard J. Aldridge, Jan Bergstrom, David J. Siveter, Derek J. Siveter, and Feng Xiang-Hong is a mavelious book on early Cambrian life found in Southern China. This book is about the discovery and initial study of the Chengjiang Lagerstatte, where Lagerstatte means a fossil geological deposit of economic interest.

Prior to this discovery, all that we had to go upon for Cambrian life forms was the Burgess Shale in British Columbia, Canada. Now a truer picture emerges as to the diversity and flowering of fauna and flora in the Cambrian. The Chengjiang Lagerstatte even predates the Burgess Shale but not by much in geological time. Professor Hou's discovery of the Chengjiang biota in Yunnan Province, China in 1984 proved to be a revelation equal to , or even exceeding, that provided by the fauna of the Burgess Shale. Firstly, its older, taking us closer to the origin of life's "Big Bang." Secondly, its preservation was, if anything, more exquisite. Thirdly, an even greater variety of organisims was preserved... with relationships established with those fauna of the Burgess Shale biota.

The fauna included in this book have some peculiarities all of their own, also, they are claimed as the earliest verterbrates. There are arthropods beyond your imagination, "worms" of several phyla, lubering lobopods, large predators and the ever present trilobites. This book brings together wonderful color photographs and line drawings to further your imagination about Cambrian life. Think of this book as the first comprehensive travel guide to early Cambrian life. You are looking at what was on the seafloor some 525 million years ago and the seafloor is full of surprises with such detail that the specimens look like they're ready for the disecting table ready for inspection.

All of the Chengjiang specimens figured in this book are from the Lower Cambrian Yu'anshan Member, Heilinpu Formation, of Yunnan Province, making for some very interesting reading. I gave this book a solid 5 stars for well-appointed pictures of these specimens with exceptional detailed explanations of the life forms.

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Summary: Additional material in English on the Chengjiang fossils
Review: This book is an excellent source of information on these remarkable fossils. The color photography adds materially to the pleasure of reading this book and the reconstruction black and white drawings shown are a must. Although many specimens show these reconstuctions some do not.

There is one incorrect statement regarding the book -"...this is the first book in English to provide fossil enthusiasts.......".

Another excellent publication which has many color plates and reconstructions in English is found in "The Cambrian Explosion and the Fossil Record" ISSN 1015-8448 Bulletin of the National Museum of Natural Science by Junyuan Chen, Yen-Nnien Cheng, H.V. Iten Guest Editors. The book is soft bound and is 316 pages, most of which is on the Chengijang fauna, Publication date 31 Dec. 1997.

These two publications are both excellent and if you have a real desire to find out more about these extraordinary fossils I highly recommend both books.

The Bulletin of National Museum of Natural Science is published by the Division of Collection and Research, National Museum of Natural Science . 1, Kuan-chien Road Taichung, Taiwan 404, R.O.C.