Anomalocaris Cambrian Predator Fossil

Anomalocaris is the largest known Burgess Shale animal. Anomalocaris was widely distributed with other finds in Australia, China, Greenland and Utah. This Cambrian predator reached lengths of up to half a meter. Complete specimens are rare but the mouth parts are sometimes found in Lower Cambrian through lower Upper Cambrian horizons. Anomalocaris swam with a series of lobes along the sides of the body. In front it had large spiny limbs that it used for grabbing prey. The specimen below has one of these limbs. Even for Anomalocaris, this is a very large specimen. Elrathia kingii often have healed bite marks attributed to Anomalocaris. This specimen is a bit weathered, but still is a fine example of this unusual Cambrian animal from America's Burgess Shale-like stra in Utah.