Palaeocampa may have been a well-defended lobopod

[Halichoeres]

Palaeocampa anthrax is an invertebrate found in the Mazon Creek lagerstätte as well as in France. This paper redescribes it and considers it to be a lobopodian (it has previously been considered a possible annelid). Based on the structure of its sclerites (plates of mineralized chitin) and evidence of exudates (goo) on its bristles, the authors think it may have secreted a toxic or distasteful substance to deter predators.

Graphical summary of phylogenetic analysis, diagram of the fossil, and reconstruction:


Open access in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-08483-0

[Faelrin]

Fascinating little critter. Like a little porcupine.

[Protopatch]

Fascinating little critter. Like a little porcupine.

Mmm... Also a shoe brush

[Halichoeres]

Fascinating little critter. Like a little porcupine.

Mmm... Also a shoe brush

Haha it does look a bit like a shoe brush! (Also a porcupine)