Eon: Phanerozoic
 Era: Paleozoic
  Period: Cambrian
   Epoch: Furongian
    Age: Paibian*

Anomalocaris

An anomalocaridid from the genus Anomalocaris cruises a Middle Cambrian ocean floor about 500 million years ago. Growing to over three feet long, Anomalocaris is believed to have been a predator whose diet included trilobites and may have been one of the earliest arthropods.

This image includes a trilobite from the species Olenoides serratus and sponges from the genus Vauxia and Wapkia. The small, flower-like animals (yes, like the sponges they are rooted animals) are from the genus Dinomischus. Above and behind the Anomalocaris is an ancient jellyfish.