Burgess Shale fossils illustrate the origin of the mandibulate body plan

Holotype ROM 63823 and paratypes of Tokummia katalepsis preserve paired mandibles, maxillipeds and subdivided basipods; their recovery as stem mandibulates is a morphology-matrix result, not evidence that Tokummia is a direct ancestor of crustaceans, insects or myriapods.

Tokummia katalepsis was recovered as a stem mandibulate in the cited morphology matrix; this is not direct ancestry to crustaceans, insects or myriapods.

The profile is restricted to Marble Canyon Burgess Shale material and does not establish a global range.

Mandibles and appendages support feeding and locomotor hypotheses, while prey, habitual substrate use and performance were not observed.

ROM 63823 and paratypes preserve paired mandibles, maxillipeds and subdivided basipods.

The 508 Ma display point is a locality sample age, not a global species range or mandibulate origin date.

The Mandibulate evidence route navigation entity is source-linked only to the named specimen, dataset and analysis dossiers already cited by its range ledger. Its displayed span is a study-bounded route or sample envelope, not a biological taxon, ancestor sequence, global FAD/LAD or exact origin interval.