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
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
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
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
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
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
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