The exact taxonomic status of this arthropod is in dispute.
been termed a “trilobitomorph” by some researchers,
showing their beliefs in its close affinity with the trilobites.
While the Trilobitoorpha was listed in the Treatise, most now consider
that this subphylum is invalid, a catchall much like
some of the dustbin terms used by Walcott for a number of the Burgess
Shale fauna. Whittington termed it a “soft-bodied trilobite”’
but that belief is not supported at present. Their similarity in
appearance to the Agnostida is purely a result of convergence.
Two large groupings
of the Paleozoic arthropods are currently in favor: the Crustaceomorpha
(which includes Waptia) and the Arachnomorpha, dominated by the
trilobites. The Naraoiidae are arachnomorphs and include Misszhouia
Naraoia. Misszhouia longicaudata was initially placed within Naraoia,
but was given its own genus based upon differences between it
compacta of the Burgess Shale. The species is one found
in several locations within Yunnan Province. This
one is a quite large example which shows the outline of the cuticle,
the central gut line, antennae, and a fringe of delicate biramous