Procampta

Procampta is a genus of extinct arthropods belonging to the stem-group Mandibulata. Fossils assigned to this genus have been found in Cambrian-aged deposits, most notably the Burgess Shale in British Columbia, Canada.

Procampta is characterized by its small size, typically measuring a few centimeters in length. Its morphology displays a segmented body with a head shield, thorax, and abdomen. Key features include the presence of numerous pairs of biramous appendages, suggesting an adaptation for swimming or crawling along the seafloor. The head possesses structures tentatively identified as antennae, indicating a sensory role.

The phylogenetic placement of Procampta is significant for understanding the early evolution of arthropods, particularly the origins of the Mandibulata clade, which includes insects, crustaceans, myriapods, and chelicerates. While Procampta possesses characteristics that align it with the stem-group leading to Mandibulata, its exact relationships to other Cambrian arthropods remain a subject of ongoing research. Its biramous limbs, segmentation, and head structures contribute to the overall picture of arthropod diversification during the Cambrian explosion.