Ancient 'abnormal shrimp' used facial spikes to pierce soft prey

A new study suggests that the ancient arthropod Anomalocaris canadensis, known as the "abnormal shrimp from Canada," likely hunted soft-bodied prey instead of hard-shelled trilobites as previously believed. Researchers created 3D computer models and studied modern arthropods to determine that the facial spikes of A. canadensis would have been too delicate to pierce through trilobites' tough exoskeletons. Instead, this apex predator is thought to have targeted soft-bodied animals in the water column, using its spikes to puncture them like a pincushion.