The special body plan of Yunnanozoon is almost identical to that of the living enteropneust hemichordate Balanoglossus,which suggests that the earlyCambrian creature is ancestral to the hemichordates.
这种独特的身体造型与现生肠鳃类半索动物几无二致,从而表明这个早寒武世动物是地球上半索动物门中已知最古老的祖先类型。



![Structure of branchial region – bc, coelom. tb, tongue-bars. ds, mesentery. pr, ridge. vv, vessel. gp, gill-pore. dn, dorsal nerve. dv, vessel. œ, oesophagus. vs, mesentery. vn, ventral nerve.[8]](/uploads/202501/11/Balanoglossus_25919.png)

![Structure of anterior end – a, Arrow from proboscis-cavity (pc) passing to left of pericardium (per) and out through proboscis pore-canal. b1, arrow from central canal of neurochord (cnc) passed out through anterior neuropore. b2, ditto; through posterior neuropore. c, arrow intended to pass from 1st gill-pouch through collar pore-canal into collar-coelom (cc). cts, posterior limit of collar. dv, dorsal vessel passing into central sinus (bs). ev, efferent vessel passing into ventral vessel (vv). epr, epiphysial tubes. st, stomochord. vs, ventral septum of proboscis. sk, body of nuchal skeleton. m, mouth. th, throat. tb, tongue-bars. tc, trunk coelom.[8]](/uploads/202501/11/Balanoglossus_35919.png)
