Tullimonstrum as a vertebrate

thingiverse

This is a model of Tullimonstrum gregarium from the Carboniferous. It is not a rare fossil, but its phylogenetic connections remain highly debated, as do aspects of its anatomy. Here I have reconstructed it as a vertebrate, largely following McCoy et al.'s 2016 study. Most reconstructions I've seen depict the creature with its proboscis extended, yet the articulations reminded me of a dragonfly larva mandible, so I also created a version with the proboscis folded up ventrally. I'm not aware of any evidence that supports this interpretation though.