The paratype specimen ROMIP 65168; an anterior sclerite
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
†Dinocaridida
Order:
†Radiodonta
Family:
†Hurdiidae
Genus:
†Titanokorys Caron & Moysiuk, 2021[1]
Species:
†T. gainesi
Binomial name
†Titanokorys gainesi
Caron & Moysiuk, 2021[1]
Titanokorys[1] is a genus of extinct hurdiid (peytoiid) radiodont (a grouping of primitive stem arthropods which lived during the early Paleozoic) that existed during the mid Cambrian. It is the largest member of its family from the Cambrian, with a body length of 50 cm (20 in) long, making it one of the largest animals of the time.[2][1] It bears a resemblance to the related genus Cambroraster.[1] Fossils of T. gainesi were first found within Marble Canyon in 2018.[3] The fossils were not named until 2021 because they were assumed to be giant specimens of Cambroraster.[1]
The creature was one of several genera of radiodonts known from the Burgess Shale, with some of the others being Cambroraster, Anomalocaris, Peytoia, and Hurdia.[1][4]Titanokorys is distinguished from other Burgess Shale radiodonts because of its large anterior sclerite (head covering carapace) and a pair of spines on the anteroventral sides.[1] Based on the shape of its appendages, Titanokorys is speculated to have used them to sift through the sand looking for prey. It is believed to have fed by using its anterior sclerite to scoop up organisms from the sea floor.[1] Then it would use its frontal appendages (long grasping structures that all radiodonts possessed) to trap the prey item so it could start consuming it.[1] Because of its size, Titanokorys was one of the dominant predators of the Burgess Shale and one of the largest animals in its ecosystem.[1]
^ abcdefghijkCaron, J.-B.; Moysiuk, J. (2021). "A giant nektobenthic radiodont from the Burgess Shale and the significance of hurdiid carapace diversity". Royal Society Open Science. 8 (9): 210664. Bibcode:2021RSOS....810664C. doi:10.1098/rsos.210664. PMC 8424305. PMID 34527273.
^"Meet Titanokorys gainesi, Giant Radiodont from Burgess Shale". Sci.News. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
^"Geological Background - The Burgess Shale – Science – The Burgess Shale". Royal Ontario Museum. 10 June 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^Moysiuk, J.; Caron, J.-B. (2019). "A new hurdiid radiodont from the Burgess Shale evinces the exploitation of Cambrian infaunal food sources". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 286 (1908): 20191079. doi:10.1098/rspb.2019.1079. PMC 6710600. PMID 31362637.
alongside Titanokorys was a similar-looking hurdiid radiodont called Cambroraster. This closely related genus is so similar to Titanokorys that the latter...
animal (for its era) at up to 30 centimetres (12 in) (but not as long as Titanokorys at 50 centimetres (20 in)), it is characterized by a significantly enlarged...
accompanying the description of the hurdiids Aegirocassis benmoulae, Titanokorys gainesii, and the analyzation of Stanleycaris hirpex as follows: Species...
possessing long, pointed sclerites. While others like Cambroraster and Titanokorys possessed horseshoe-shaped sclerites. This radiodont is known from a...
the fictional Millennium Falcon, which its dorsal carapace resembles. Titanokorys Stem-group Arthropoda Radiodonta 12 specimens The largest hurdiid from...
Caron reinterpreted morphology of Pahvantia hastata with description of Titanokorys. Researchers compared the part and counterpart of specimen KUMIP 314819...
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