Anomalocaris ('unusual shrimp') is an extinct animal belonging to the anomalocarid clade.

Anomalocaris was a swimming creature which possibly used flexible lobes on the sides of its body to propell itself through the water. Its large head had big eyes with multiple lenses and a round mouth. Two large 'arms' with barb-like spikes were positioned in front of the mouth; Anomalocaris probably used these to grab prey and bring it to its mouth.

For the time in which it lived Anomalocaris was a truly gigantic creature, reaching lengths of an already large 60cm (2ft) to a staggering 2m (6ft 8in). Essentially it was the blue whale of its time, and undoubtedly the top predator.

Anomalocaris has been misidentified several times. Its name originates from a description of a detached 'arm', mistaken for a seperate creature. The mouth was mistaken for a jellyfish and called Peytoia, and the body was classified as a sponge named Laggania. According to ICZN rules, the oldest name takes priority, which in this case would be Anomalocaris. The name Laggania was later used for another genus of anomalocarid.

See Also

• Anomalocarid

Fossils | Cambrian