Burgess Shale Drawings

by Hannah Caine

 

 

(Click on arrows to get closer or view next illustration.) "Anomalocaris canadensis"

Anomalocaris is the largest animal to be discovered in the Burgess Shale at 60cm.It was a formidable predator and used spiny grasping limbs to seize prey. On the under part of the head there is a mouth consisting of sharp teeth that could break tough animal exoskeletons. The lateral lobes along the length of its body provided a mechanism to allow the creature to swim. Complete fossils of Anomalocaris are rarely found.  

Pencil and carbon dust on paper