Anomalocaris saron feeding on a trilobite, Yunnanocephalus yunnanensis, while an Amplectobelua swims underneath, in Cambrian China. (C) Stanton F. Fink
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anomalocaris was a swimming
creature which possibly used flexible lobes on the sides of its body to propel
itself through the water. Its large head had one pair of large, possibly compound,
eyes, and a disk-like mouth that resembled a slice of pineapple. Two large
'arms' with barb-like spikes were positioned in front of the mouth; Anomalocaris
probably used these to grab prey and bring it to its mouth.
For the time in which it lived Anomalocaris was a truly gigantic creature,
reaching lengths from an already large 60 cm (2 ft) to a staggering 2 m (6
ft 8 in).
Compared with many of the other sea-dwelling creatures of its time, anomalocarids
were extremely agile. The flaps along its body could probably be moved in
a wave-like formation, allowing it to move at great speeds or to 'hover'.
This motion could be compared to present-day Batoidea (rays). The shell of
the anomalocarids was more flexible than those of its prey, allowing it easier
movement.
Roleplaying Notes
Originally Posted by
LordArchaon of the Wizards Community forums.
Anomalocaris
CR 1/2
Always N Tiny vermin
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60ft.; Listen +1, Spot +5;
Languages none
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AC 18, touch 15, flat-footed
16;
(+2 size, +3 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 5 (1 HD)
Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +1
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Speed 10 ft. (2 squares),
swim 30 ft..
Melee 2 barbed tentacles +5 (1-2) and bite +0 (1d4-2)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Base Atk +0; Grp -5
Atk Options improved grab, devour, mutilating bite
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Abilities Str 6, Dex
16, Con 10, Int -, Wis 13, Cha 2
Feats Weapon Finesse (B)
Skills Hide +15, Listen +1, Move Silently +7, Spot +5
Advancement 1-2 HD (Tiny), 3-5 HD (Small), 6 HD (Medium)
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Improved Grab (Ex) To use this ability an anomalocaris must hit with a barbed tentacle attack. An anomalocaris can use either its Strength or Dexterity modifier for grapple checks, whichever is better.
Devour (Ex) An anomalocaris deals automatic bite damage on a successful grapple check.
Mutilating bite (Ex)
if the anomalocaris wins a grapple check, dealing bite damage on a smaller
creature or an appendage of an equally sized or larger creature (like a humanoid
finger) it deals 1 point of Constitution damage from blood loss or mutilation.
The Constitution damage improves with Advancement, being 1d2 for Small anomalocaria,
and 1d3 for Medium anomalocaria.
When meeting the above conditions, the bite of the anomalocaris is also treated
as having the Vorpal special ability, with the exception that the natural
20 and the critical confirmation required for the effect must be rolled as
grapple checks. The critical confirmation would be, in this case, a second
successful grapple check. Larger creatures are immune to this last effect.
Skills An anomalocaris has a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently, Hide and Spot checks.
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Strategies and Tactics
Anomalocaris is a predator
that relies on its ability to ambush preys. If it manages to get close to
its prey and grapple it with its barbs, the unlucky creature is quickly devoured,
sliced into small pieces by the many teeth of the mouth and the following
esophagus.
Larger creatures, like humanoids, could normally incur into light wounds only,
but if they do not watch out for their fingers or other appendages as hears,
they could be easily mutilated.
However, larger anomalocaria have mouths that could easily fit a medium humanoid's
head, so the danger grows up exponentially.
Ecology
Little is know of the habits of the anomalocaria, but it is believed to be a lonely predator. Perhaps, in more dangerous environments than their original ones, a couple or a larger group could live closely together to protect their eggs and younglings from other predators.
Environment: The rich fauna of the rifts and their warm waters are the two only things that an anomalocaris needs to live well.