Echidnacaris: The Spiny Suspension Feeder of the Emu Bay Shale

This episode details Echidnacaris briggsi, an extinct radiodont from the Cambrian period discovered in the Emu Bay Shale of Australia. Historically categorized under a different genus, this marine animal was reclassified in 2023 into its own unique group within the Tamisiocarididae family. Physically, it was characterized by large frontal appendages with specialized spines used for suspension feeding, rather than active hunting. Research indicates it possessed massive, non-stalked eyes containing thousands of lenses, likely an evolutionary adaptation for navigating low-light marine environments. These sources collectively describe the morphology, dietary habits, and taxonomic history of this ancient arthropod relative.