How It Works

MEET ANOMALOCAR­IS

One of the first apex predators to swim in the oceans

1 DORSOLATER­AL COMPOUND EYES

Protruding from either side of the creature’s head were compound eyes around three centimetre­s long, containing more than 16,000 lenses.

5 POSTERIOR FINS

For navigation, a fantail fin worked as a rudder to steer the body of the beast.

4 IMBRICATIN­G LOBES

To propel them through the water, these creatures had more than ten overlappin­g lobes that undulated.

2 GRASPING APPENDAGES

At the head of Anomalocar­is were two appendages that curled around their prey and drew them to their mouths.

3 SERRATED MOUTH

Anomalocar­is sported a circular mouth lined with sharp teeth to break apart their prey’s oftentough exterior.