Anomalocaris

Anomalocaris is an extinct genus of radiodont (anomalocarid), an order of animals thought to be closely related to ancestral arthropods and the one of the species was Anomalocaris canadanensis. Anomalocaris is thought to be one of the earliest examples of an apex predator, though others have been found in older Cambrian lagerstätten deposits.

Etymology

Noting its unusual anatomy for the abdomen of a crustacean, Whiteaves gave it the name Anomalocaris, meaning "unlike other shrimps" in Ancient Greek.

Physical Appearance

This arthropod was a head with two large appendages and compound eyes, the tail fan and frontal appendages. Their fin-like legs that run down the body that it propelled itself through the water by undulating the flexible flaps on the sides of its body and to long antennae like structures on the hind quarters.

Anomalocaris had an unusual disk-like mouth known as an oral cone. The oral cone was composed of several plates organized triradially. Three of the plates were quite large. Three to four medium sized plates could be found between each of the large plates, and several small plates between them. Most of the plates are wrinkled and possess scale-like tubercles near the mouth opening. Additionally, estimation of ecdysozoan opsins suggest that Anomalocaris may have had dichromatic Color vision.

Abilities

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Ecology

It is a stem-group arthropod, and thus not related to crustaceans. It is also said to be related to velvet worms. The interpretation of Anomalocaris as an active predator is widely accepted throughout the history of research; it had a worldwide distribution and survived over 20 million years. Not only that, but Anomalocaris is also noteworthy for evolving compound eyes independently of trilobites.

Their predator of Anomalocaris no other than discovered and eaten by a school of Haikouichthys and even others smaller ones. Anomalocaris canadensis lived in the Burgess Shale in relatively great numbers, though comparable fossils have been found elsewhere, suggesting a more expansive range over the Laurentian continent. In the Burgess Shale, Anomalocaris is more common in the older sections, notably the Mount Stephen trilobite beds. However, in the younger sections, such as the Phyllopod bed, Anomalocaris could reach much greater sizes; roughly twice the size of its older, trilobite bed relatives. Other unnamed species of Anomalocaris live in vastly different environments. For example, Anomalocaris sp. ELRC 20001 lived in the Maotianshan Shales, a shallow tropical sea in what is now modern China. Anomalocaris cf. canadensis lived in a comparable environment; the shallow, tropical waters of Cambrian Australia.

Behavior

Anomalocaris will follow you into water, but if a survivor waits long enough in knee deep water any and all Anomalocaris will lose interest. The creature will get a prompt stating that they are being targeted by an Anomalocarid.

Distribution and Habitat

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Movement Pattern: None
Individual Type: Solo
Population Trend: Unspecific
Population:
- Earth: 0
- Berbania: 300
- Reinachos: 4,500
- Delphia: 500
Locomotion: Aquatic
Habitat: All
Earth: Australia; Canada; China; Morocco; Palau; United States

Tamed

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Lore

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Gallery

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