Antennacanthopodia

Antennacanthopodia is a small lobopodian from the Chengjiang biota that dates to about 520 million years ago (Cambrian Stage 3). It is similar to the extant Onychophora (velvet worm) and is the only widely accepted stem-onychophoran lobopodian from the Cambrian period. Antennacanthopodia had nine pairs of stubby legs, a pair of potential ocelli, and two pairs of antennae. The first pair of antennae were much longer than the second and are still present in modern onychophorans. The identity of the smaller antennae are less clear, but they might be homologous with either the slime papillae or onychophoran jaw. The animal also had diminutive spines on its legs and trunk, highly sclerotized foot pads, and possible pair of tendril-like appendages at the end of its body.