Scientists from the University of Bristol came across this “terrible monster” (the Latin meaning of its name) in fossil fragments from the Sirius Passet region. Analysis showed that this creature was unlike any known Cambrian predator.
Timorebestia was created for hunting. Its 30cm body, adorned with fins and antennae, probably traveled through Cambrian waters with an inner jaw ready to capture prey. Although Timorebestia was not exactly a giant compared to modern giants, it was one of the largest species at the time.
“They were giants of their time,” explains study author Jakob Winter. “Timorestis were at the top of the food chain, comparable to sharks in modern oceans.”
Fossil evidence, including the remains of an edible arthropod called Isoxys, confirms its predatory lifestyle. “They ate this armored prey in large quantities,” adds another researcher, Morten Lunde Nielsen.
“We can assume that Timorebestia and its relatives dominated the oceans before the emergence of dominant predators such as arthropods,” says Winter. “This dynasty may reign for millions of years before being replaced by new players.”
Source: Ferra
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