Alien Oceans

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Burgess Shale

505 million years ago

Mid Cambrian

The first morning rays of the sun beats down on a lifeless wasteland. Plants have yet to evolve, and there isn't a single land animal. The Earth's surface looks more like that of Mars.

But while the land is devoid of any life, the same cannot be said for the ocean.

Beneath the waves is a strange world. Plant-like animals such as leaf-shaped Thaumaptilon walcotti, cup-headed Dinomischus isolatus and underwater tree Vauxia gracilenta are fastened to the seafloor.

 Plant-like animals such as leaf-shaped Thaumaptilon walcotti, cup-headed Dinomischus isolatus and underwater tree Vauxia gracilenta are fastened to the seafloor

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Below these otherworldly plants crawls a bizarre beast

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Below these otherworldly plants crawls a bizarre beast.  At first it seems like a horseshoe crab, but this creature is far from being one: this is Burgessia bella.

  At first it seems like a horseshoe crab, but this creature is far from being one: this is Burgessia bella

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