Artiopod

Artiopod is a genus of extinct marine arthropods described in speculative paleontology and used in worldbuilding. Members are small to medium in size, typically ranging from two to eight centimeters, and possess a dorsoventrally flattened body shield. The body comprises a broad cephalon and a segmented trunk with multiple pairs of appendages. The exoskeleton is lightly calcified and often preserved with surface ornamentation that ranges from smooth to ribbed.

Anatomy and variation: The cephalon bears reduced eyes and a pair of sensory antennae; the trunk consists of eight to twelve articulated segments, each with a set of walking legs, while a distal pair of caudal structures may be present. Mouthparts include gnathobasic appendages used to process food. Some specimens show gill-like structures along the thorax and a short, stylized telson.

Ecology and lifestyle: Artiopods inhabited shallow, warm marine environments and are interpreted as benthic detritivores or scavengers. They likely moved slowly across the substrate, using their appendages to sift sediment and sweep algae or microbial mats from the seafloor. Their fossil record suggests relatively low metabolic rates and a wide ecological tolerance.

Taxonomy and evolution: Within the speculative taxonomy, Artiopoda is a stem group of arthropods related to trilobites and related taxa. Artiopods illustrate early diversification of limb specialization in marine ecosystems during the Cambrian-like period.