Tales of Earth
1. Sidneyia
Early Cambrian. 517 million years ago.
Having been freed from recent glaciation, the Earth is now covered by a multitude of warm, shallow seas. We are now on the seashore of what will eventually become South China. The sediment under the shadow of the sponge-covered rocks seems empty, but appearances can be deceptive. Some of the rocks lying on the white sandy layer are alive. Theis is Sidneyia. This distant cousin of the trilobite may be tiny, but it is a fierce predator. Half-buried in the sand, it has spread its antennae, which allow it to detect even the slightest movement of water. This worm-like chordate seems like the perfect target. As soon as the prey flows directly over it, Sidneyia uses its powerful tail to thrust itself onto the unsuspecting creature.
However, as is sometimes happens, the arthropod has miscalculated. Unable to grab its prey too large, it flips onto its back, struggling to move, and becomes easy prey for any opportunist lucky enough to catch it before it manages to turn over.
