If evolution ever doodled in the margins, it was Hallucigenia. This tiny, wormlike oddball from the Cambrian explosion (over 500 million years ago) looked like something straight out of a sci-fi concept sketch: a spindly body tipped with clawed legs, and a row of absurdly long spines jutting from its back like a living pincushion.

Originally reconstructed upside-down (yes, paleontologists once thought it walked on its spines), Hallucigenia has since been revealed as an early relative of velvet worms. At barely 1–5 cm long, it may have been small, but it’s become one of the most delightfully bizarre icons of early animal evolution.

This hard enamel pin captures its surreal silhouette in polished metal and enamel—no Burgess Shale fossil slab required.

Specs:

• Premium metal base with polished hard enamel fill
• Secure clasp so your Hallucigenia doesn’t “scuttle away”
• Size: 41 x 27mm
• Zero risk of accidentally walking on its spines

Perfect for Cambrian explosion enthusiasts, lovers of the weird and wonderful, and anyone who thinks evolution has a sense of humor.