Talk:Anomalocarid

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72.134.44.224 20:48, 30 September 2006 (UTC)I'm not very experienced with Wikipedia, but I noticed that two categories were virtually parallel and should have links between each other. The Cambrian Category holds a mishmash of geologic periods, vertebrates and invertebrates. The Prehistoric Arthropods category holds several Cambrian arthropods that are not in the Cambrian category. So, I added several Cambrian invertebrates (some of them of uncertain classification, but it is much easier to find them in one unified category). It might make sense to have a sub-category in Prehistoric Arthropods for prehistoric invertebrates of uncertain classification, or vice versa. To try to make this little post understood so it can be discussed, I will post this in the talk page for Anomalocaris, Anomalocarid, Aysheaia, and Hallucigenia. Hope this helps Wikipedia's support of a nice little-known topic.

[edit] Laggania's lifestyle

The reconstructions of Laggania at http://www.trilobites.info/species3.html have features which to me suggest a bottom-feeder rather than a plankton feeder:

  • eyes completely dorsal as well as posterior to those of Anomalocaris, and with noticeably short stalks (i.e. less mobile). Dorsal eyes would help a bottom-feeder to look out for more dangerous predators, e.g. Anomalocaris. I suspect that in a plankton feeder selection pressure would favour lateral eyes on longer stalks so that the animal could look up / forward for food and in all directions for danger. Dorsal eyes would not help a bottom-feeder to capture prey, but the mud it stirred up would reduce the eyes' contribution to capturing prey; and Laggania may have had good tactile and chemical senses (insects' antennae provide these senses, and antennae are modified legs).
  • longer spines than Anomalocaris on the pre-oral appendages. These would be good for raking sand and mud. Most plankton feeders which use appendages have dozens of very slender, feather-like appendages to maximise the capture / filter surface, and Laggania has only 2 fairly robust appendages. The manta ray uses 2 appendages (cephalic fins) to channel plankton into its mouth, but the manta's cephalic fins are broad flaps, not segmented arms with spines.
  • the usual relatively small anomalocarid mouth. Most large plankton feeders have huge mouths to hoover up their prey.

Laggania also has:

  • no fantail at the rear
  • more rigid lateral lobes than Anomalocaris

which suggests its was slower and less agile than Anomalocaris. This is consistent with both a plankton-feeder and a bottom-feeder. Philcha 18:42, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Merging with the Anomalocaris article

This is only a suggestion. Anyone for it? Giant Blue Anteater 17:20, 21 October 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Branchiopods

The article briefly mentions Brine Shrimp, though it seems anomalocaris bears an even closer resemblance to Fairy Shrimp, and seems to have a few traits in common with other Branchiopods. Take a look at these pages...

Does anyone know any more (or at least know anywhere it's been discussed at greater depth)? --Xanthine 01:29, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

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