Buzz
Insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and other arthropods have been Earth's dominators for nearly half a billion years. Throughout this time, they've evolved into some of the most astonishing and diverse creatures.
10. Synophalos Xynos: The ‘Conga Line’ Shrimp
Synophalos xynos was a shrimp-like marine arthropod that lived in the Cambrian seas over 500 million years ago, displaying behaviors unseen in any modern animal. A groove on its face could “lock” onto the tail of another of its kind, causing groups of S. xynos to link together in long chains. These connections were so tight that they often remained intact even when buried and eventually fossilized. It’s believed they swam and fed together, functioning as a single, long, worm-like entity.
9. Diania Cactiformis: The ‘Walking Cactus’
Another Cambrian sea creature, fossils of Diania cactiformis resemble wilted ferns, with many fuzzy “leaves” curling off a slender central stalk. In truth, it was a worm-like creature supported by fat, flexible legs covered in small thorns. It likely crawled along the seafloor, preying on soft-bodied invertebrates. D. cactiformis was a member of the lobopods, a group thought to be the ancestors of all insects and other hard-shelled arthropods. Today, the only surviving lobopods are velvet worms.
8. Megarachne: The Underwater ‘Giant Spider’
With a thick, rounded body and eight legs, Megarachne was once thought to be the fossil of an enormous, tarantula-like spider. If this had been the case, it would have been the largest spider ever recorded. However, further investigation revealed that Megarachne was actually a sea creature. Specifically, it belonged to a group of animals known as sea scorpions, though it was an exceptionally large, spider-shaped sea scorpion.
7. Manipulator Modificaputis: The ‘Killer’ Cockroach
Cockroaches have been among Earth's most successful creatures since the earliest days of terrestrial life. Sadly, many of the most remarkable species are now extinct. Manipulator modificaputis was a fully predatory cockroach from the early Cretaceous, and its anatomy resembled that of a praying mantis, with a swiveling head and clawed, raptorial front legs. It’s notable that while modern mantises and cockroaches share a common ancestor, M. modificaputis evolved mantis-like traits independently—a unique evolutionary twist in the world of cockroaches that didn’t last long.
6. Dinosaur ‘Fleas’
The “fleas” that once fed on dinosaurs have a fascinatingly complex history. For a period, insects known as strashilids were thought to have sucked the blood of dinosaurs and pterosaurs, only to be later identified as harmless, aquatic invertebrates. It wasn’t until 2012 that new fossils of what were almost certainly flea-like parasites from the age of dinosaurs were discovered, with one species dating to the Jurassic and another to at least the Cretaceous period. These insects, measuring nearly 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) in length, were flattened like bedbugs and unable to jump. They likely clung to vegetation and latched onto their hosts similar to modern ticks.
5. Kalligrammatids: The First ‘Butterflies’
With so many organisms adapting to various roles, evolution tends to repeat itself. Just look at the striking similarities between sharks and dolphins, despite the fact that neither evolved from the other. A similar pattern can be seen with a group of Jurassic insects that appeared and lived almost exactly like butterflies, millions of years before the first true butterflies evolved. These insects, known as Kalligrammatids, belong to a group today classified as Neuroptera, which also includes lacewings, antlions, and even more obscure species such as owlflies and spongillaflies.
4. Aquilonifer Spinosus: The ‘Kite Flyer’
Aquilonifer spinosus was a trilobite-like arthropod that existed over 400 million years ago during the Silurian period. It’s known from a single fossil, with unusual, pod-like creatures attached to its tail by thin, straight strands. Initially, these creatures were thought to be parasitic, but their attachment method seemed ineffective for parasitism. Further examination revealed that these were actually A. spinosus's own young, tethered to their parent like “kites” that may have floated behind it in the water. No modern animal carries its young this way, leaving the potential benefits of such a strategy uncertain.
3. Tamisiocaris Borealis: The Arthropod ‘Whale’
You may already be acquainted with Anomalocaris, a genus of 1-meter (3 ft) swimming arthropods believed to have been a dominant predator in the Cambrian seas. However, one of its relatives took an entirely different evolutionary path, abandoning its deadly jaws in favor of a fine-tuned filtration system. While still only a few feet long, Tamisiocaris borealis was far larger than most other creatures of its time and is thought to have been one of Earth’s first swimming filter feeders, akin to modern baleen whales. Remarkably, the possibility of a filter-feeding Anomalocarid was predicted by artist John Meszaros long before any evidence of such a creature was discovered.
2. Walliserops Trifurcatus: The ‘Trident’ Trilobite
Among the 20,000 known trilobite species, Walliserops trifurcatus stands alone with its extraordinary feature: a long, thin pole extending from the middle of its face, adorned with three “leaves” or “spikes.” These unique appendages, often asymmetrical with some curling left or right, vary among individuals of W. trifurcatus, making each one distinct. The exact function of these spikes remains a mystery, though it’s speculated they may have been used for attracting mates or possibly for engaging in combat with rivals, similar to the horns of certain modern beetles. The purpose of the appendage is still unknown.
1. Odaraia Alata
This ancient swimming arthropod gained attention in 2015 when one of its fossils revealed a remarkably well-preserved brain, though the creature itself was also quite peculiar. With large, protruding eyes, a barrel-shaped shell, and a three-finned tail, it moved through the water in a fashion more akin to fish than most other marine arthropods. It's believed that it swam on its back.
