Verrocaris
Verrocaris is an extinct genus of radiodont of the family Anomalocarididae from the Kinzers Formation, located in Pennsylvania, United States. The genus contains a single species, Verrocaris kerrymatti, which may be an intermediate between bottom-feeding anomalocaridids and the suspension-feeding radiodont Tamisiocaris.
Discovery and naming
Verrocaris is known from two specimens: the holotype, NMNS P-A-2300, and a referred specimen, USNM PAL 90827 and NMNS P-A 388, both of which consist exclusively of frontal appendages. The referred specimen was previously referred to Tamisiocaris aff. borealis. Both specimens were discovered in the outcrops of the Kinzers Formation in Lancaster [County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County], Pennsylvania.The genus name, Verrocaris, comes from the Latin verrere, meaning "to sweep", and caris, meaning "crab". The specific name, kerrymatti, honours Kerry D. Matt.
Description
The frontal appendage is divided into a peduncle and a distal articulated region. The peduncle is composed of a single podomere, while the distal articulated region is composed of 15 podomeres. The endites are long and lack auxiliary spines. They do not alternate in length like the endites of Anomalocaris and Lenisicaris do.Verrocaris may be an intermediate form between other anomalocaridids, which may have been bottom-feeders, and taxa like Tamisiocaris, which were suspension feeders.