Topic summary
Amplectobeluid
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Amplectobeluidae.
Description
Amplectobeluids have frontal appendages with a well-developed first distal endite, which forms a pincer-like structure suited for grasping. Complete body fossils of amplectobeluids are only known for Amplectobelua and Lyrarapax, both showing a combination of characters resembling those of Anomalocaris; a streamlined body, a small head with ovoid sclerites, well-developed swimming flaps, and a pair of caudal furcae. Amplectobelua and Ramskoeldia have a pair of gnathobase-like structures,, while Lyrarapax and Guanshancaris have an oral cone with a tetraradial arrangement and scale-like nodes.