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Nettapezoura

Nettapezoura is a monotypic genus of fossil arthropod. The only known species is Nettapezoura basilika from the Marjum Formation of Utah, dating back to the Cambrian (Drumian) period.

Morphology
Nettapezoura is known only by one specimen, UU 04083.02, which preserved the body in a parallel oblique angle, revealing more of its left dorsolateral side. The body comprise of a cephalon (head) and an 11-segmented trunk. All of the dorsal exoskeletons (tergites) does not have any well-defined boundaries between the axial region (vaulted middle section) and tergopleurae (lateral extensions). The cephalon is covered by a semicircular shield. The first 8 trunk segments are wide and possess triangular tergopleurae. The last 3 trunk segments are narrow and tube-like. Telson (tail) widen posteriorly and trifurcated into 3 short spines, resembling the webbed foot of a duck and hence the name Nettapezoura ("duck foot tail"). Evidence of appendages are scarce. There are at least 2 pairs of thin, long appendages exposed from the cephalic shield. These were originally thought to be endopods (inner/lower branch), but subsequently identified as exopods (outer/upper branch) like those of habeliids and Megachelicerax. The trunk have at least 7, possibly 8 pairs of flap-like appendages, each possess an outer rami fringed by lamellae and an inner rami with leaf-like lobations. The last 3 trunk segments have no appendages. == Classification ==
Classification
Similar to the co-described Dicranocaris, the taxonomic affinity of Nettapezoura is uncertain. Initially it was identified as an arachnomorph, Recent studies around 2020s suggest it is possibly a habeliid (stem chelicerate) alongside Dicranocaris and Messorocaris. == References ==
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