Description

Odaraia alata
Middle Cambrian
Burgess Shale, Stephens Formation
Field, British Columbia BC Canada.

Among the rarest Burgess Shale arthropods we have ever had. Odaraia had a strange, three-bladed tail that required modeling by scientists to fully understand. This specimen not only has the tail fully preserved (notice that two blades overlap so all three blades can be seen), but eyes, gills and the digestive tract which is usually covered by the carapace. There are even visible muscle fibers in the tail. Outstanding, large example of a rare arthropod with soft anatomy preserved. 73mm on 114mm slab.