Lobster’s ancient ‘cousin’ was gentle giant

It used tiny bristles to net its meals

By Ashley Yeager, 09:19 AM March 31, 2014

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Some of the largest early animals may have used spiny limbs to filter their food, not spike it. That certainly appears true for a 70-centimeter (2.3-foot) long distant relative of the lobster. It swam the seas roughly 520 million years ago, during what is known as the Cambrian period. Along the way, it used those limbs to net small animals for its breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Scientists found fossils of this Tamisiocaris borealis (Tah MEE see oh KARE is BOR ee AL is) in what is n...

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