Cambrocaris Explained

Cambrocaris baltica is an Upper Cambrian crustacean from Poland.

Description

Cambrocaris is a pancrustacean roughly long, known from a single, partial specimen with Orsten-type preservation. The preserved section is 800 micrometers long and bears eight pairs of appendages with the anterior three being complete and further back only being partially preserved, [1] the first antennae being the longest appendages. The fossil seems to be only lightly sclerotised, with no distinct cutinized areas. It is unknown whether Cambrocaris had a cephalic shield due to the dorsal area being partially damaged, however it is improbable for it to have had a large shield, with either a smaller shield comparable to Martinssonia or a lack of the feature entirely being the most plausible possibilities. Cambrocaris also had a large hypostome, with a bilobed bulge reaching the mouth.

Ecology

Cambrocaris, while possibly being benthic due to being preserved in sediment, nevertheless shows adaptations for swimming, and the presence of a mouth and lack of intricate bristles show that it presumably caught prey and swallowed it whole.[2]

Etymology

Cambrocaris is named as such due to its Cambrian origin, and the species name baltica derives from its location on the Hel Peninsula, in the Baltic Sea.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Waloszek . Dieter . Szaniawski . Hubert . Cambrocaris baltica n. gen. n. sp., a possible stem-lineage crustacean from the Upper Cambrian of Poland . Lethaia . October 1991 . 24 . 4 . 363–378 . 10.1111/j.1502-3931.1991.tb01488.x . 1991Letha..24..363W .
  2. Waloszek . Dieter . Szaniawski . Hubert . Cambrocaris baltica n. gen. n. sp., a possible stem-lineage crustacean from the Upper Cambrian of Poland . Lethaia . October 1991 . 24 . 4 . 363–378 . 10.1111/j.1502-3931.1991.tb01488.x . 1991Letha..24..363W .
  3. Waloszek . Dieter . Szaniawski . Hubert . Cambrocaris baltica n. gen. n. sp., a possible stem-lineage crustacean from the Upper Cambrian of Poland . Lethaia . October 1991 . 24 . 4 . 363–378 . 10.1111/j.1502-3931.1991.tb01488.x . 1991Letha..24..363W .