Scientists Found an Exceptionally Preserved Fossil in Utah. Then Noticed Something No One Expected
The Daily Galaxy • • science
Key Points:
- A 500-million-year-old fossil named Megasiphon thylakos was discovered in Utah, providing rare insight into early tunicates, a group closely related to vertebrates with an almost nonexistent fossil record.
- The fossil preserves soft tissues, including muscle bands controlling siphons used for filter feeding, offering unprecedented anatomical details rarely seen in tunicate fossils.
- Megasiphon's morphology indicates that early tunicates were stationary, seabed-dwelling filter feeders with free-swimming larvae, mirroring the life cycle of modern tunicates.
- This fossil pushes back the estimated origin of tunicates to around 500 million years ago, earlier than previous molecular estimates of 450 million years, suggesting their body plan emerged soon after the Cambrian Explosion.
- Researchers emphasize the fossil's striking resemblance to modern tunicates, highlighting its significance in understanding the early evolutionary history and lifestyle of this enigmatic animal group.
