The Burgess Shale fauna

The Burgess Shale fauna refers to a diverse group of ancient marine animals preserved as fossils in a Canadian shale formation from around 505 million years ago. This site reveals a wide array of early life forms, including many bizarre and now extinct creatures with unusual body structures. It provides critical insight into the Cambrian Explosion, a period when most major animal groups first appeared. The fossils help scientists understand early animal evolution, showcasing a rich diversity of soft-bodied organisms that are rarely found in other fossil records.