The Animals of the Cambrian Period

      The Cambrian and Pre- Cambrian periods are well known for their life diversity. And also, perhaps, its life oddity. This included animals such as Wiwaxia corrugata, which was basically an armored slug, as well as Hallucigenia, which is best described as looking like an earthworm with toothpicks stuck down the top and bottom of its body. Then there was Anamalocaris, an arthropod which I can not find anything to compare it to, so you will have to just look up a picture.

      I have chosen 3 to create with LEGOs here. #1; Trilobite. Trilobites were prehistoric relatives of modern arthropods, such as crustaceans. They are famous for being incredibly diverse, and surviving way past the Cambrian period. #2: Opibinia regalis. Opibinia was another arthropod, and looked a little like a smaller Anamalocaris. Except with only one frontal appendage. And three more eyes. #3: Ammonitoid. Ammonites were relatives of todays squid, octopuses, and nautiloids. They are well known for having shells that could have just bizarre shapes; one looked like it had been tied in a knot, another like a trumpet. Like trilobites, they survived quite a bit past the Cambrian.

      Here I have made a set consisting of three life- sized models, one for each of the above animals. Just to be clear, this idea is suggesting only one set, made up of three parts. The Opibinia has a fully posable body, as well as a posable tail and whatever the frontal appendage is called. It is suspended on a clear axle piece, which, in turn, is attached to a turntable. This means that it can be moved and posed anywhere on the stand. The base for the Opibinia includes a crab, coral, a clam, and some seaweed. The Ammonitoid has posable cirri (appendages) plus a display stand with coral, a clam, a lobster, a small trilobite (which the ammonite is eating), and more seaweed. My trilobite model is more basic (except for the trilobite itself; that was very hard to make), with just 1 rock, some seaweed, and a Cameroceras.

      I built this set because this is exactly the type of geeky project that I like to build, and I believe it would make a terrific set because of its accuracy, and because it is educational.