Description

Aegirocassis benmoulai Van Roy 2015

Ordovician

Lower Fezouata Formation

Eastern flank of Jbel Tigzigzaouine, facing Oued Ezegzaou, Morocco.

76mm x 84mm appendage on 135mm slab. Rare example of one of the largest arthropods of all time.

Soft-bodied.  Anomalocarid.

Aegirocassis is a genus of anomalocaridid arthropod that was one of the largest of all arthropods that ever lived, reaching about 6 1/2 feet long and was almost certainly the largest animal of its time.  Like the largest animal of our time, the blue whale, it has been determined to have been a filter-feeder that descended from predatory ancestors.

So far, Aegirocassis is known only from the Early Ordovician of Morocco.

Have a look at this amazing 3D model of Aegirocassis courtesy of Google and darwinmuseum.ru. Click on the arrows at the bottom right corner to see it full screen!