Possibly Anomalocarid?

[Ostafrikasaurus]

I was interested in purchasing Anomalocaris material, and found this interesting fossil on a reputable site. The site claims in is likely Anomalocarid. Here is the project description:

LARGE PREDATORY ARTHROPOD - LLANVIRN SERIES, WALES

Anomalocaris type arthropod

Squared slab of flagstone from Upper Gilwern Hill showing part of the body segment of a huge arthropod. The surface texture is very like that of an Eurypterid, but the rocks at Gilwern are open marine, not suited to Eurypterids. This is much more likely to be from the huge predator Anomalocaris or something similar. A top predator should occur where there is a rich source of food - in this instance Ogyginus Trilobites. An unbelievably rare find and almost certainly undescribed.

Ordovician, Lower Llanvirn Series
Old Tile Quarry, Upper Gilwern Hill, Powys, Mid Wales

Matrix: 14.5 x 6 x 2 cm
Arthropod: 12.9 cm long

So is it possible it is anomalocarid? Or is that just wishful thinking?

[Fossildude19]

Unfortunately, the pictures are much too blurry to make much detail out.

Not sure if they are known to have been found in the Ordovician of Wales, but they have been found in the Ordovician of Morocco.

Without much to go on for anatomy, I would pass on this as truly anomalocarid.

Regards,

[doushantuo]

Send an email to Alison Daley,is what i say

[Raggedy Man]

"An unbelievably rare find and almost certainly undescribed."

This raises a red flag for me. The piece you're looking at is a shadowy blob with no real diagnostic features. I read that anomalocaris was there in the Cambrian, but I didn't see anything about ordovician. Now, this doesn't mean it wasn't there it just means I couldn't find any journals or studies.

In my opinion, if you're interested in a anomalocaris find a specimen that's authenticity isn't in question and shows the characteristics associated with it.

Best regards,

Paul

[Taogan]

Never heard of an Anomalocaris from the Llanvirn and there isn't enough of it to identify it. I would treat this with caution, it could be anything. I do however have a suspicion that it is something unusual.