a filter feeding 'lobster' as big as a human took the place of whales 480 million years ago, a new fossil find has shown the 65ft (two metre) prehistoric creature belonged to the family of anomalocaridids that were the early ancestors of modern crustaceans, insects and spiders at this length it would have been comparable in size to athlete usain bolt, actor liam hemsworth and former wrestler hulk hogan a giant filter feeding 'lobster' (illustrated left) took the place of whales 480 million years ago, a new fossil find has shown the 65ft (two metre) prehistoric creature was an early ancestors of modern crustaceans, insects and spiders and at this length would have been comparable in size to athlete usain bolt (pictured right) the remains were unearthed in morocco and it is thought to be the oldest giant filter feeder ever discovered but while most of its relatives were shark like apex predators with circular mouths ringed by sharp teeth, the new species, named aegirocassis benmoulae, was a 'gentle giant' the 65ft (two metre) prehistoric creature belonged to the family of anomalocaridids that were the early ancestors of modern crustaceans, insects and spiders like modern day whales, it filtered seawater to trap tiny particles of food, using spine covered 'limbs' on its head fossils also show that aegirocassis had pairs of swimming flaps along its body these were likely to be precursors of the unique double branched appendages seen in modern crustaceans like modern day whales, it filtered seawater to trap tiny particles of food, using spine covered 'limbs' on its head modern day lobsters grow to around 19 inches (50cm) and modern day whales average at around 79ft (25 metres) dr allison daley, from oxford university, who co led a team studying aegirocassis writing in the journal nature, said: 'this would have been one of the largest animals alive at the time 'these animals are filling an ecological role that hadn't previously been filled by any other animal 'while filter feeding is probably one of the oldest ways for animals to find food, previous filter feeders were smaller, and usually attached to the sea floor 'we have found the oldest example of gigantism in a freely swimming filter feeder' a benmoulae was named after the moroccan fossil hunter who discovered it, mohamed ben moula the 3d fossil, exposed using tiny needle like tools to chip away the surrounding rock, is exceptionally well preserved a benmoulae was named after the moroccan fossil hunter who discovered it, mohamed ben moula the three dimensional fossil (pictured), exposed using tiny needle like tools to chip away the surrounding rock, is 'exceptionally well preserved' other anomalocaridid fossils have been flat, like pressed leaves  the fossils (pictured left and right) also show that aegirocassis had pairs of swimming flaps along its body, which were likely to be precursors to the unique double branched appendages seen in modern crustaceans they also bear resemblance to gill flaps seen on the trunks of modern arthropods  dr allison daley, from oxford university said: 'this would have been one of the largest animals alive at the time while filter feeding is probably one of the oldest ways for animals to find food, previous filter feeders were smaller, and usually attached to the sea floor' the fossil's individual parts are annotated above  in contrast, other anomalocaridid fossils have been flat, like pressed leaves 'without these 3d remains we may never have got the insight into these animals' anatomy that we did,' said dr daley the fossil shows that aegirocassis had pairs of swimming flaps along its body, which were likely to be precursors of the unique double branched appendages seen in modern crustaceans they also bear resemblance to gill flaps seen on the trunks of modern arthropods the large size of this filter feeder suggests that the anomalocaridids were well adapted to take advantage of a presumably rich source of plankton during the ordovician period, said the authors the fossils were found in the fezouata biota formation region of central anti atlas in morocco (marked) modern lobsters (stock image) grow to around 19 in (50cm) and modern whales average at 79ft (25 metres)
65ft 480 million years ago two metre morocco
remains of the two metre (65ft) prehistoric creature unearthed in morocco  it lived 480 million years ago and belonged to the family of anomalocaridids  these were early ancestors of modern crustaceans, insects and spiders  like modern day whales, it filtered seawater to trap tiny particles of food  fossils suggest it caught food using spine covered 'limbs' on its head  and experts claim it is the oldest giant filter feeder ever discovered 