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Definition of anomalocaris

anomalocaris

/əˌnɑː.mə.loʊˈkær.ɪs/
a · nom · a · lo · car · is
Plural:anomalocarises
•
Adjective:anomalocaridid
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anomalocaris Lexical Profile

• noun

1

An extinct genus of large, free-swimming radiodont arthropods from the Cambrian period, characterized by a pair of large grasping appendages, prominent compound eyes, and a distinctive disk-like mouth.

Example

"Fossils preserved in the Burgess Shale reveal that anomalocaris was one of the earliest known apex predators of the ancient marine ecosystem."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for anomalocaris

• Rhymes for anomalocaris

• Nearby Words

anointing
anointment
anole
anomalocaris
anomalopteryx
anomalous
anomalously

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1892 by paleontologist Joseph Frederick Whiteaves from the Greek 'anṓmalos' (irregular, unlike) and 'karís' (shrimp), because the first discovered fossil appendages were mistakenly thought to be the abdomen of an unusual crustacean.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Anomalocaris. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/anomalocaris
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