Wiwaxia fossil map
Where fossils of Wiwaxia have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 500 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 500 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 | 521–497 million years ago (Stage 3 to Guzhangian) |
| Periods | Cambrian |
| Named by | Walcott 1911 |
| Fossil records | 42 occurrences at 15 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Canada, China, United States, Russian Federation |
| Rock formations | Burgess Shale, Mount Cap, Kaili, Lead Bell Shale, Sinsk, Hongjingshao |
About Wiwaxia
Wiwaxia is a genus of prehistoric soft-bodied animals that were covered in carbonaceous scales and spines that protected it from predators. Wiwaxia fossils—mainly isolated scales, but sometimes complete, articulated fossils—are known from early Cambrian and middle Cambrian fossil deposits across the globe. The living animal would have measured up to 5 centimetres (2 in) when fully grown, although a range of juvenile specimens are known, the smallest being 2 millimetres (0.08 in) long.
Wiwaxia's affinity has been a matter of debate, causing researchers to be long split between two possibilities. On the one hand, its rows of scales looked superficially similar to certain scale worms (annelids); conversely, its mouthparts and general morphology suggested a relationship to the shell-less molluscs. More recently, evidence for a molluscan affinity has been accumulating, based on new details of Wiwaxia's mouthparts, scales, and growth history. The name derives from Wiwaxy Peak in British Columbia.
The proposed clade Halwaxiida contains Wiwaxia as well as several similar Cambrian animals.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Wiwaxia (revision 1379794802), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in.
