Anomalocaris, an ancient marine predator from the Cambrian period, is known for its distinctive features such as large, spiny appendages for capturing prey, a flexible, segmented body, and a circular mouth lined with sharp plates. It primarily inhabited ancient oceans and played a crucial role in the early marine food chain.

Anomalocaris is an extinct genus of radiodonts that lived during the Cambrian period, approximately 520 to 505 million years ago. Fossils have been discovered in various parts of the world, including the Burgess Shale in British Columbia, Canada, the Chengjiang biota in Yunnan Province, China, and the Emu Bay Shale in South Australia. These locations indicate that Anomalocaris had a wide geographical distribution in ancient marine environments.

Anomalocaris inhabited shallow marine environments characterized by soft, muddy sea floors. These ancient seas were warm and rich in nutrients, providing an ideal environment for diverse marine life. The Cambrian period seas had high levels of calcium carbonate, promoting the growth of early marine organisms with hard parts.

Anomalocaris was a top predator in its marine ecosystem. It occupied a niche as an apex predator, preying on smaller marine organisms, including trilobites and other soft-bodied creatures. Its large, flexible body and unique appendages allowed it to effectively hunt and capture prey in the water column. Anomalocaris's ecological role was crucial in shaping the early marine food web during the Cambrian explosion.