ANOMALOCARIS: Dynamic Balance

Copyright: Paleogirl at deviantart.com

The terror of the Cambrian Seas (500 million years ago), Anomalocaris cruised the warm coastal waters hunting for Trilobites.  Finding one, this super-predator grabbed her prey with her two appendages, and wiggled the exoskeleton of her victim up and down until it split open.  Then, She ate the exposed innards of the unfortunate Trilobite.  Sometimes, Anomalocaris would take a bite out of her prey with her sharp circular mouth parts.

            Growing to the size of a person, Anomalocaris resembled a shrimp with her segmented body.  To swim long distances, She moved the flaps of her body simultaneously up and down.  This action gave Her, the ability of a fish in swimming.  Because Anomalocaris could cruise and hover, She became the apex predator of her time.

            In searching the sea floor for tasty Trilobites, Anomalocaris used her two compound eyes on the top of stalks.  The most notable feature of Anomalocaris was her eyes, which were as complex as a modern Dragonfly.  As the first known apex predator, She proved that eyes developed before joined legs, since vision was more important in the early oceans.

            Anomalocaris personified the “arms race” known as the Predator-Prey dynamic, which keeps a dynamic balance.  With her advanced eyes, She could hunt her prey.  Meanwhile to avoid being eaten by Anomalocaris, Trilobites learned to roll up in a ball.

            The Predator-Prey dynamic became a path to balanced growth.  To avoid being eaten, the prey created new strategies for defense.  Then the predator devised new offensive strategies for hunting.  Balance was maintained as each changed themselves to outwit the other, shapeshifting and growing in the process.  When we need to grow but still keep our balance, we can look to Anomalocaris and Trilobites.  Each shows us what we need to do in their dance of dynamic balance as predator and prey.
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Trilobite Family: Diversity (2 of 2)

Copyright: Paleogirl on deviantArt

However, the most important role of Trilobites for scientists is in estimating the ages of other fossils.  Because They lived throughout in the entire Paleozoic Era, Trilobites are often found with other fossils of this Era.  Since Trilobites evolved into being an extremely diverse Class of animals, their fossils can be used to pin-point the particular time periods of the other fossils.

            Being diverse was the key to the longevity of Trilobites as a species.  During the Cambrian Period (600 mya), four Orders of Trilobites came into being.  During the Cambrian Mass Extinction Event (500 mya), one Order did go extinct.  However during the Ordovician Period (450 mya), two new Orders emerged, who colonized the new coral reefs.  Only one Order of Trilobites survived the Devonian Extinction Event (350 mya).  This meant that the Class of Trilobita (Trilobites) was bottlenecked into the Proetida Order who lived in both deep and shallow waters.  These small Trilobites had unusually large eyes and spines on either side of their heads.  When life was pushed to the brink of extinction during the Permian Great Dying (about 250 mya), this final group of Trilobites died out.

            This great diversity enabled Trilobites to exist for over 300 million years, longer than many other species.  Paleontologists could find these animals in every marine environment in every shape and size.  But as Trilobites lost their ability to adapt and to become more diverse, They declined in numbers and eventually went extinct.

            From Trilobites, we learn that the key to survival is to be adaptable and diverse.  Moreover, the most important aspect to staying strong is embracing diversity.  When Trilobites ceased to adapt, They died out.  When we refuse accept diversity, we should remember the final fate of Trilobites.  Let Trilobites show you how to adapt successfully.
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To purchase Paleogirl's plush trilobite toys and other prehistoric animals: Paleogirl at .deviantart.com or at her Esty-store:  Plush Extinct Invertebrates and More