本书内容包括:寒武纪生命大爆发时期脊椎动物的演化过程;和脊椎动物演化形成相伴随的其他动物门类物种的演化及形态研究。前两部分包括发表在《自然》和《科学》杂志上的十一篇论文以及发表在国内外一流刊物上的十五篇论等。
舒德干团队,Professor Degan SHU received his undergraduate training in Paleontology at Peking (Beijing) University in 1964-1969, Master degree in Northwest University (Xi'an) and Ph. D in China University of Geosciences (Beijing); as visiting scholar in Smithsonian Institution,Washington, D.C., USA in 1988,Humboldt research fellow in University of Bonn in 1988-1989 and in University of Wuerzburnull