What primary functions were hypothesized for the two prominent, anterior tentacles of *Wiwaxia*?

They served a sensory or feeding purpose, potentially sweeping the substrate for edibles.

Near the anterior end of *Wiwaxia*, paleontologists have identified two notable, crown-like structures interpreted as pairs of tentacles projecting forward. While their exact role is subject to scientific debate, their position, combined with the understanding that the mouth was located ventrally, suggests critical roles in environment interaction. Tentacles in creatures with ventral mouths often facilitate sensing the immediate surroundings or assisting in feeding. Given the suspected diet of detritus and scraped algae, these appendages were likely employed to sweep the seafloor, detect edible material, and guide that material toward the mouth located on the underside of the animal.