Page 110 - The Cambrian Evidence that Darwin Failed to Comprehend

The Cambrian Evidence That Darwin Failed to Comprehend

A fossil Hallucigenia

A reconstruction of fossil Hallucigenia

bled a caterpillar with lobe-like appendages and isolated plates on

its dorsal surface. Newly identified features confirm that the spines
were used for defense. Underneath, it had seven pairs of legs, each
ending in a claw. 73

Odaraia
Odaraia’s structures make it one of the most remarkable
Burgess Shale life forms. It had two rather large eyes and two valves
meeting along the ventral margin. As an appendage to the ab-
domen, it had three blades.
The animal appears to have been an active swimmer and used
its large eyes to seek out smaller organisms for feeding. Odaraia in
all likelihood possessed the ability to swim upside down. This way
the uneven drag that would otherwise have occurred because of the
gap between the valves was minimized. Its appendages provided
the power for swimming. The limbs of its head section were small,
however there is some evidence of small antennae and a powerful
mandible. 74

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