| Kodymirus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist's restoration | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| (unranked): | †Artiopoda |
| (unranked): | †Vicissicaudata |
| Genus: | †Kodymirus Chlupáč & Havlíček, 1965 |
| Species: | †K. vagans |
| Binomial name | |
| †Kodymirus vagans Chlupáč & Havlíček, 1965 | |
Kodymirus is a genus of EarlyCambrianarthropod, known from theCzech Republic. Although it possessedgreat appendage-like raptorial arms, it was not homologous with those ofmegacheirans.Kodymirus is currently considered a member ofVicissicaudata, closely related toaglaspidids, and more distantly totrilobites. It is part of a small and low-diversityPaseky Shale fauna group, which dwelt in brackish waters.[1]
Kodymirus was a small predator at 80 mm (3.1 in) long. Its distinctive feature is pair of large, serratedraptorial appendages. These appendages appearconvergent to those ofmegacheirans andradiodonts, but are not homologous as they postantennular, suggesting raptorial arms evolved multiple times in Cambrian arthropods.[2]
Kodymirus inhabited thePaseky Shale, within the modern day Czech Republic, which may be a shallow marine environment or brackishestuary.[2][3] Trace fossils from the Shale have been interpreted asKodymirus raking its claws along the sediment while swimming, disturbing benthic prey buried beneath the muck. This would makeKodymirus the earliest known arthropod predator in theintertidal zone.[2]
Kodymirus was previously considered anenigmatic arthropod, and its precise taxonomic affinity remained uncertain. It was initially believed to be an earlyeurypterid and later amegacheiran.[2][1]Kodymirus is currently been placed within the cladeVicissicaudata, a subgroup ofArtiopoda, the clade containingtrilobites and their close relatives. Within Vicissicaudata, it is generally considered closely related to the orderAglaspidida.[4][2][1] Its basipods closely resembles those of the vicissicaudatanEmeraldella.[2]
Cladogram after McCoy et al. 2025:[5]
