奥斯坦(Orsten)型保存化石是一类个体微小却三维保存软躯体的、表皮次生磷酸盐化的以节肢动物为主的化石.和澄江生物群化石不同的是,奥斯坦型保存化石无明显受垂向挤压变形,是一种特殊的保存方式.奥斯坦型保存化石呈现出精美的生物活体时的形态特征,对研究节肢动物的生长模式、系统分类及个体发育提供了重要的形态证据.二十多年来,中国的古生物学家锲而不舍地在寒武纪地层里找寻这类化石.中国的南方是世界奥斯坦型化石重要的产出地之一,其潜在的化石资源有待深入研究,研究前景具有挑战性.%Orsten-type fossils are mainly tiny arthropods whose soft-body is preserved by the impregnation of their cuticle with phosphate.The Orsten-type material is quite unusual because the imbedding animals are preserved in three dimensions instead of being flattened like those observed in the Chengjiang Fauna.These fossils look like living animals,and their detailed morphological characteristics provide convincing evidence of the body plan,evolution,systematics and ontogeny of Cambrian arthropods.Because of the great importance of Orsten-type fossils,many Chinese paleontologists have been working constantly to search for them in Cambrian strata all over China for more than 20 years.Southern China is well known as one of the most important regions in the world,and is expected to have great potential for yielding many Orsten-type fossils.The research on Orsten-type fossils is challenging and will surely attract more attention.
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