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Nectocaris was a free-swimming, predatory or scavenging organism. This lifestyle is reflected in its binomial name: Nectocaris means "swimming shrimp" (from the Ancient Greek νηκτόν, nekton, meaning "swimmer" and καρίς, karis, "shrimp"; πτέρυξ, pteryx, means "wing").

Nectocaris had a body that was flattened and shaped like a kite, with a fleshy fin running down each side. Two stalked eyes, one pair of tentacles, and a flexible funnel-shaped structure with an opening to the body's underside were all that could be seen in the tiny head. Away from the head, the funnel frequently becomes wider.

Nectocaris has been proposed that the funnel stands in for an eversible (capable of being turned inside out) pharynx. Internally, the body axis is parallel to a long cavity that may represent the digestive tract. Nectocaris' body has two gills, each of which is made up of blades that protrude from a zigzag axis. The axial cavity was surrounded by muscle blocks, which have been preserved as dark blocks in the lateral body. Additionally, the fins display dark blocks with fine striations overlaid on top of them. These striations frequently protrude sharply above the rock's surface. Within Nectocaris pteryx, there seem to be two discrete morphs, one large (~10 cm in length), one small (~3 cm long). These perhaps represent separate male and female forms.

They may be the oldest known cephalopods, according to some authors. However, because of their distinct morphology from confirmed early cephalopods, most authors reject their affinities to cephalopods and even molluscs in general. The redescription of Nectocaris pteryx, which lacked a shell and appeared to have jet propulsion similar to "derived" cephalopods, complicated the issue of the order in which cephalopod features evolved—assuming Nectocaris is a cephalopod at all. Some morphological evidence is difficult to reconcile with this view, as well.

Nectocaris possibly produce the ink in a special bit of anatomy called the ink sac, which includes the appropriately named ink gland. In moments of need, the squid or octopus injects this ink from the sac to the rectum where it is mixed with mucus, at which point it can be pumped out the anus with a surprising amount of control.

Nectocaridids have controversial affinities. Some authors have suggested that they represent the earliest known cephalopods. However, their morphology is strongly dissimilar to confirmed early cephalopods, and thus their affinities to cephalopods and even to mollusks more broadly are rejected by most authors.

The nectocaridid funnel's peculiar shape has led to the interpretation that it is an eversible proboscis. However, other authors have refuted Martin R. Smith's assertion that it was used for jet propulsion. If Nectocaris' eyes lacked lenses, they would have had vision comparable to that of a modern nautilus or squid. They are believed to have been free-swimming nektonic organisms that either preyed on soft-bodied animals or were scavengers and used their tentacles to manipulate prey.

Though Nectocaris are both formidable fighters in the wild, they aren't typically dangerous to people. That doesn't mean they're always harmless. They produce the ink in a special bit of anatomy called the ink sac, which includes the appropriately named ink gland. In moments of need, the squid or octopus injects this ink from the sac to the rectum where it is mixed with mucus, at which point it can be pumped out the anus with a surprising amount of control.

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• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: 0

• Locomotion: Aquatic

• Habitat: All

• Earth: Australia; Canada; China

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• https://www.azquotes.com/quote/425111?ref=squids

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nectocaris

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Nectocaris-884229209