Description

Acinocricus stichus
Middle Cambrian
Spence Shale Member, Langston Formation
Wellsville Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah

19mm lobopod on 136mm slab with algae and 10mm hyolithid

Acinocricus is a genus of worm-like animal that was originally named based on remains so fragmentary that it was thought to be some kind of algae. It is now considered a lobopod based on similarities to animals from Chengjiang called Luolishaniids. Acinocricus had several pairs of legs and spines presenting a thorny appearance.

This a great association piece you almost never see. Extremely rare.

See: http://kumip.ku.edu/cambrianlife/Utah-Lobopods.html

You can download the original scientific paper here (PDF): “More soft-bodied animals and algae from the Middle Cambrian of Utah and British Columbia”

And here is a general article to learn about lobopods: “Quick guide: Lobopodians”