The Bloop: Ellu Talks About Ocean Life (bizarre-looking animal)
so today i learned about this thing
this thing is called Hallucigenia sparsa
it is a pre-cambrian worm (called a xenusiid, relatives to tardigrades)
and JUST LOOK AT IT
IT'S LIKE THE PINGU OF ELDRITCH TERRORS
like i genuinely expect it to just go 'noot noot' or something. whossa good monstrosity yes its youuuu~
The Bloop: Ellu Talks About Ocean Life (bizarre-looking animal)
@neonNeptunian oh my gooooosh I love the pre-Cambrian weirdoes, Hallucigenia and Wiwaxia and Anomalocaris and Opabinia, I love the Burgess Shale and it's the only digsite I've ever really wanted to work because the climate isn't horrible for me. XD
The Bloop: Ellu Talks About Ocean Life (bizarre-looking animal)
Also weird: based on fossils, thought it was upside-down at first; the spines were thought to be its legs and the legs just tentacles. Some other researchers thought it an appendage of a larger animal.
It is described as part of Lobopodia, a taxa that is actually just an informal group for 'worms what with feet'
see also: tardigrades!