Discovery of Giant Predator Worm Fossils from Early Cambrian Period in North Greenland

New Discovery: Giant Predator Worms From Early Cambrian Period Found in Greenland

Scientists in North Greenland, Denmark, have found a new collection of fossils of extinct predators in the Sirius Basset region, dating back to the early Cambrian period.

Discovery of Timorebestia

This group of large worms may have been among the first carnivorous animals to dominate the oceans more than 518 million years ago, revealing an earlier lineage of predators that scientists did not know existed.

Naming The Fossil Animals

The new fossil animals were named “Timorbestia (Timorebestia), It means “terrorist monsters” in Latin.

Description of Timorbestia

Decorated with fins on both sides of its body, a distinctive head with long antennae, and huge jaw structures inside its mouth, and growing to more than 30 cm in length, these animals were among the largest swimming animals of the early Cambrian period.

Ecosystem Complexity

Dr Jacob Vinther from the Schools of Earth and Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, one of the senior authors of the new study, pointed out that Timorpestia “are close relatives of living arrowworms, or jaw worms, which are much smaller predators today that feed on small zooplankton.”

Importance of Timorbestia

“Our study shows that these ancient ocean ecosystems were fairly complex, with a food chain that allowed for several levels of predators,” Finther added. “The Timorbestia were giants in their time and were near the top of the food chain. This makes them equivalent in importance to some of the best animals.” Carnivores in modern oceans, such as sharks and seals in the Cambrian period.”

Last Meal Evidence

Inside the fossilized digestive system of an ancient Timorpistia worm, University of Bristol scientists have found evidence of what may have been its last meal: a tiny creature called Isoxys.

Speculation on Small Arthropods

Scientists speculate that these small arthropods may have had a lineage dating back “about 10 to 15 million years before they were replaced by other groups.”

Contribution of Arthropods

Morten Lunde Nielsen, a former PhD student at the University of Bristol and part of the current study, said: “We can see that these arthropods were a food source for many other animals. They are very common in the Sirius Basset region and had long protective spines. However, it is clear “It did not completely succeed in avoiding this fate, because Timorbestia destroyed it in large quantities.”

Age of Arrowworms

Arrowworms are among the oldest animal fossils that lived in the Cambrian period. While arthropods appear in the fossil record from about 521 to 529 million years ago, arrowworms can be traced back to at least 538 million years ago.

Remarkable Discoveries

Tae-Yun Park of the Korea Polar Research Institute, another senior author and leader of the field expedition, added: “Our discovery confirms how arrowworms evolved. Living arrowworms have a distinct nervous center in their abdomen, called the ventral ganglion. It is very unique to these animals. We found this Preserved in Timorbestia and another fossil called Amicoea. We are very excited to discover such unique predators on Sirius Basset. During a series of expeditions to the very remote Sirius Basset in the far north of Greenland, over 82.5 degrees north latitude, we have collected a great diversity of exciting animals. “Thanks to the remarkable and exceptional preservation of Sirius Bassett, we can also reveal exciting anatomical details, including the digestive system, muscle anatomy, and the nervous system.”

Future Research

“We have many exciting results to share in the coming years that will help show what the first animal ecosystems looked and evolved in,” Dr. Park concluded.

Publication

The results of the study were published in the journal Science Advances.

Source: Metro

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