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Definition of anomalocaris
anomalocaris
/əˌnɑː.mə.loʊˈkær.ɪs/
a · nom · a · lo · car · is
Plural:anomalocarises
•Adjective:anomalocaridid
anomalocaris Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• 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
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.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Anomalocaris. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/anomalocaris