Hurdia

In Depth        Hurdia is one of the best‭ ‬recognised of all the anomalocaridid genera,‭ ‬thanks mostly to the large number of specimens that have been found.‭ ‬The feature that makes Hurdia really stand out is the enlarged head that has puzzled many researchers to its purpose.‭ ‬There is no need for such a feature in … Read more

Pambdelurion

In Depth        Pambdelurion is thought to have been very similar to the arthropod Kerygmachela,‭ ‬and as such is probably related to Anomalocaris.‭ ‬Unlike Kerygmachela however,‭ ‬Pambdelurion does not possess large spines for spearing prey on its two forward limbs.‭ ‬Instead Pambdelurion had rows of much smaller probably flexible spines which were arranged like combs.‭ ‬It … Read more

Opabinia

opabinia

In Depth        Perhaps the best word to describe Opabinia is bizarre.‭ ‬With five eyes,‭ ‬a forward facing proboscis a third of the length of the body and a mouth that is not only on the underside of the body but faces backwards,‭ ‬and you end up with a creature like no other we know of … Read more

Tamisiocaris

In Depth        Tamisiocaris was first described as a possible anomalocaridid back in‭ ‬2010,‭ ‬but by‭ ‬2014‭ ‬the genus was not only being confirmed as an anomalocaridid,‭ ‬but as a filter feeder.‭ ‬Anomalocaridids generally have two curving appendages that depending upon the genus,‭ ‬are usually situated in front of the head.‭ ‬The appendages on Tamisiocaris had … Read more

Aegirocassis

aegirocassis

In Depth        Out of all the Cambrian era arthropods so far named,‭ ‬Aegirocassis has certainly been one of the most remarkable.‭ ‬Obviously the thing that most people notice about Aegirocassis is the huge size,‭ ‬at just over two meters in length for the largest recorded specimen,‭ ‬Aegirocassis was in‭ ‬2015‭ ‬the largest anomalocaridid so far … Read more

Anomalocaris

anomalocaris

In Depth        Although named in‭ ‬1892,‭ ‬no one had any idea of the true identity of Anomalocaris until towards the end of the twentieth century.‭ ‬The first specimen was originally thought to be a shrimp,‭ ‬but with hindsight we now know this specimen to only represent one of the frontal grasping appendages.‭ ‬The second clue … Read more

Kerygmachela

kerygmachela

In Depth        Kerygmachela was an aquatic arthropod of the Cambrian that is thought to be related to the larger Anomalocaris,‭ ‬hence the placement of Kerygmachela within the Anomalocarididae.‭ ‬The type species name,‭ ‬K.‭ ‬kierkegaardi,‭ ‬is in honour of Soren Kierkegaard,‭ ‬a Danish philosopher.        Kerygmachela had eleven pairs of lateral lobes,‭ ‬out growths that extended from … Read more