Omnidens

Omnidens
Temporal range: Cambrian Stage 3
Size estimation of Omnidens as a gilled lobopodian, with the only evident region (mouthparts) highlighted in dark grey. (Note: speculative frontal appendage morphology is now known to be incorrect)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
(unranked): Panarthropoda
Genus: †Omnidens
Hou, Bergström, and Yang, 2006
Type species
Omnidens amplus
Hou, Bergström, and Yang, 2006
Species
  • O. amplus Hou et al., 2006
  • O. qiongqii Li et al., 2024

Omnidens, meaning "all-tooth", is an extinct genus of large Cambrian animal known only from a series of large mouth apparatus and sclerotized talon-like structures, originally mistaken as the mouthparts of anomalocaridids.[1] When first named, it was interpreted as a giant priapulid,[1] but is now considered a panarthropod.[2] Its mouth apparatus closely resembles that of the smaller gilled lobopodian Pambdelurion, indicating it is likely to have been a close relative of that species, potentially even synonymous.[2] With a maximum estimated body length of 1.5 metres (4.9 ft), Omnidens is suggested to have been the largest known free-living Cambrian organism.[2] Omnidens fossils are found in the Maotianshan Shales.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Hou2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Vinther2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).