Vetulicola is a bizarre and enigmatic genus of the Early Cambrian ^{1), 2)}, and its representative species are V. cuneata and V. rectangulata ⁴⁾.

Vetulicolians (Class Vetulicolida), which the genus Vetulicola is classified into, have a bipartite body ⁴⁾. The anterior of V. rectangulata is about 5 - 7cm in length and about 3 - 4cm in height ¹⁾, the posterior is appoximatelly 2.5 - 3cm (measured on Plate 1 - Figure 9 of the reference 1), so the total length of V. rectangulata may be 10cm or so.

The anterior section of V. rectangulata has a subrectangular shape in lateral view, and has relatively robust "coverings" ¹⁾. The anterior body is surrounded with marginal zones formed by the coverings, and has a fin-like projection at posterodorsal corner and additional short projections at the midpoint of the posterior edge and at the posteroventral corner ¹⁾.

The coverings are separated by prominent lateral grooves extending from the anterior to the posterior end, and these grooves have five pairs of internal pouches ^{1), 5)}, which are interpreted as gill-openings ^{3), 4)}.

The posterior body consists of seven segments ¹⁾. Each segments also have "coverings" and are connected by more flexible "articulating membranes" ⁶⁾. Last four segments support flaps forming an ovoid structure ¹⁾. This region is extended vertically, and the posterior section has flexibility in lateral direction ^{2), 4), 5)}.

There is an alimentary canal along the axis of posterior body, and the anus seems to open at terminal ¹⁾.

Neither jointed appendages nor eyes have been identified in the vetulicolians ^{4), 5)}.

The Vetulicola had not any chewing mechanisms, so that they were probably nektobenthic (swimmers near the bottom of the sea) and filter-feeders ¹⁾, or supension-feeders ³⁾.

They could swallowed voluminous quantities of seawater by expanding their internal cavity, subsequently, contraction of the cavity had served to expel the water through the gill-openeings ³⁾. Presumably, some gas-exchange have occured in their cavity, or through the lateral openings ³⁾. The expulsion of water may have helped their swimming ¹⁾.

The phylogenetic positions of the vetulicolians are controversial ^{1), 2)}, although it is almost accepted that they are deuterostomes or stem-deuterostomes ^{5), 6)}.