Haplophrentis

Taxobox
name = "Haplophrentis"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Hyolitha
genus = "Haplophrentis"

"Haplophrentis" was a tiny shelled animal which lived in the Cambrian Period. Its shell was long and conical, with the open end protected by an operculum, from which two fleshy arms called "helens" protruded at the sides. These arms probably acted as stabilisers, or were used for locomotion, rowing the animal across undersea mudflats.

Specimens of "Haplophrentis" have been found in the gut of the predator "Ottoia".

"Haplophrentis" ranged in length between 2-6 mm. It is classed as a hyolith, which some scientists regard as molluscs.

References

[http://paleobiology.si.edu/burgess/haplophrentis.html The Smithsonian Institution's page on the animal]