The scientists discovered a strange creature shaped phallus found in the fossil site in Canada. Animals that have been identified as Spartobranchus tenuis, a species of the Cambrian period were previously unknown to science.
According to the researchers, this bizarre creature looked like the acorn worms that exist today. Their study, published in the journal Nature, is the first description of the prehistoric animals.
The remains of soft-bodied worm is found in the Burgess Shale fossil beds in Yoho National Park, Canada. Today for the first time researchers studied 505 million year old fossil animal life researching odd detail. "Many sea creatures such as worms historic size. But unlike these segmented worms. It has three distinct body segments," said Dr. Christopher Cameron, a team of researchers from the University of Montreal, Canada.
According to Dr. Cameron, strange worm is shaped like a phallus comprising heads shaped snout muscles, and in front there is a section ends with a tie neck and a long tail that has gill slits. His body ends in a rounded structure that might help him anchored to the sea.
S. tenuis reveal important evolutionary link between two groups of different animals: Enteropneusts and pterobranchs. The origins of the two groups of marine animals have been confiscated interest of scientists since opening its discovery in the 19th century.
New research suggests that S. tenuis is a relatively ancient group of animals. "It's surprising how similar fossils S. tenuis with modern acorn worms. Unless they also form fibrous tubes," said Dr. Cameron.
According to the researchers, this bizarre creature looked like the acorn worms that exist today. Their study, published in the journal Nature, is the first description of the prehistoric animals.
The remains of soft-bodied worm is found in the Burgess Shale fossil beds in Yoho National Park, Canada. Today for the first time researchers studied 505 million year old fossil animal life researching odd detail. "Many sea creatures such as worms historic size. But unlike these segmented worms. It has three distinct body segments," said Dr. Christopher Cameron, a team of researchers from the University of Montreal, Canada.
According to Dr. Cameron, strange worm is shaped like a phallus comprising heads shaped snout muscles, and in front there is a section ends with a tie neck and a long tail that has gill slits. His body ends in a rounded structure that might help him anchored to the sea.
S. tenuis reveal important evolutionary link between two groups of different animals: Enteropneusts and pterobranchs. The origins of the two groups of marine animals have been confiscated interest of scientists since opening its discovery in the 19th century.
New research suggests that S. tenuis is a relatively ancient group of animals. "It's surprising how similar fossils S. tenuis with modern acorn worms. Unless they also form fibrous tubes," said Dr. Cameron.
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