Cheungkongella fossil map
Where fossils of Cheungkongella have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 525 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 525 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Ediacaran & Cambrian life |
|---|---|
| Lived | 521–516 million years ago (Stage 3) |
| Periods | Cambrian |
| Named by | Shu et al. 2001 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | China |
| Rock formations | Yuanshan |
About Cheungkongella
Cheungkongella is a fossil organism from the lower Cambrian Chengjiang lagerstatte, the affinity of which has been the subject of debate. It was announced as a "probable" tunicate while noting the lack of definitive Cambrian fossils from that group. However, this affinity was later disputed in a paper announcing the discovery of Shankouclava, also from Chengjiang, as the oldest known tunicate. Cheungkongella has been accepted as a distinct taxon and possible tunicate by multiple workers not involved in its discovery, but the dispute remains unresolved.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Cheungkongella (revision 1327675248), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q5094270.
