Healed predation scar on a Cambrian apex predator

The scar, found on a specimen of a Cambrian apex predator, indicates a failed predation attempt that the animal survived, as evidenced by healing. Previously, fossil evidence of predation from this period was limited to biomineralized invertebrates at lower trophic levels, leaving modeled food-web links among top predators unsupported. This discovery suggests that predation pressure extended to higher trophic levels, potentially influencing the evolution of defense and predation strategies. The study contributes to understanding the complexity of Cambrian ecosystems and the role of predation in the Cambrian explosion. Further examination of soft-bodied fossils may reveal more such interactions.