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Fossil of giant ancient sea predator discovered (w/ video)
PhysOrg ^ | May 25, 2011 | Yale University

Posted on 05/28/2011 7:47:24 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

The creatures, known as anomalocaridids, were already thought to be the largest animals of the Cambrian period, known for the "Cambrian Explosion" that saw the sudden appearance of all the major animal groups and the establishment of complex ecosystems about 540 to 500 million years ago. Fossils from this period suggested these marine predators grew to be about two feet long. Until now, scientists also thought these strange invertebrates -- which had long spiny head limbs presumably used to snag worms and other prey, and a circlet of plates around the mouth -- died out at the end of the Cambrian.

Now a team led by former Yale researcher Peter Van Roy (now at Ghent University in Belgium) and Derek Briggs, director of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, has discovered a giant fossilized anomalocaridid that measures one meter (more than three feet) in length. The anomalocaridid fossils reveal a series of blade like filaments in each segment across the animal's back, which scientists think might have functioned as gills.

In addition, the creature dates back to the Ordovician period, a time of intense biodiversification that followed the Cambrian, meaning these animals existed for 30 million years longer than previously realized.

The specimens are just part of a new trove of fossils from Morocco that includes thousands of examples of soft-bodied marine fauna dating back to the early Ordovician period, 488 to 472 million years ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at physorg.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: anomalocaridids; cambrian; godsgravesglyphs; ordovician
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The anomalocaridid fossil shows this ancient sea predator existed for much longer and grew to much larger sizes than previously thought. Credit: Peter Van Roy Anomalocaridids had long, spiny head limbs presumably used to snag prey, and a series of blade-like filaments in segments across the animal's back, which scientists think might have functioned as gills. Credit: Esben Horn
Fossil of giant ancient sea predator discovered (w/ video) Fossil of giant ancient sea predator discovered (w/ video)
Fossil of giant ancient sea predator discovered (w/ video)

1 posted on 05/28/2011 7:47:30 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: SunkenCiv

If we could just find some still alive, we would need a lot of butter and garlic.


2 posted on 05/28/2011 7:50:00 AM PDT by bmwcyle (It is Satan's fault)
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To: Renfield; decimon; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...

· GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach ·
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Thanks Renfield.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
 

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3 posted on 05/28/2011 7:50:00 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: bmwcyle

And a big side of hushpuppies.


4 posted on 05/28/2011 8:10:19 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: SunkenCiv

Wow! They found a video with it? Was it VHS or proto-beta?


5 posted on 05/28/2011 8:12:34 AM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all......)
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To: SunkenCiv
And a big side of hushpuppies.

An intellect AND a poet...when we fry it up, we'll give you a holler! ; )

6 posted on 05/28/2011 8:23:03 AM PDT by Caipirabob ( Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: SunkenCiv

Nothing a 45/70 wouldn’t stop....


7 posted on 05/28/2011 8:30:24 AM PDT by wendy1946 (Bork Obunga; Before he borks you...)
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To: SunkenCiv

Does this story have anything to do with what was seen in Anthony Weiner’s underpants?

Guess not - this is about something big.


8 posted on 05/28/2011 8:57:11 AM PDT by 43north (BHO: 50% black, 50% white, 100% RED)
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To: SERKIT

There’s one in every crowd. ;’)


9 posted on 05/28/2011 9:09:14 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: Caipirabob

;’)


10 posted on 05/28/2011 9:12:50 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: 43north

"Oh, ohhhhh! Thanks for the visual!"

A-holes!

11 posted on 05/28/2011 9:13:21 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: wendy1946

Or a hammer.


12 posted on 05/28/2011 9:13:56 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: SunkenCiv

13 posted on 05/28/2011 10:14:48 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: SunkenCiv
Cool. I see a new Lady GaGa costume idea..

14 posted on 05/28/2011 10:25:50 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard .. Obama: Epic Fail or Bust!!!)
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To: SunkenCiv

No self-respecting Southerner would eat hush-puppies with any dish that wasn’t fried.


15 posted on 05/28/2011 1:00:47 PM PDT by wildbill (You're just jealous because the Voices talk only to me.)
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To: bmwcyle

Yuck! Not me. This thing looks nasty!


16 posted on 05/28/2011 1:59:56 PM PDT by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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To: jmacusa

Lobsters are not pretty but they taste good.


17 posted on 05/28/2011 2:22:26 PM PDT by bmwcyle (It is Satan's fault)
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To: wildbill

:’)

Hush little puppies, don’t you fry...


18 posted on 05/28/2011 3:30:59 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: JoeProBono

Nice!!


19 posted on 05/28/2011 3:31:37 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: bmwcyle

True. But lobsters don’t grow two foot do they? I dunno, the thing looks primordial for sure.


20 posted on 05/28/2011 3:52:25 PM PDT by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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