Research Shows 518 Million Years Old Worm Resembled Ancestry of Three Major Living Animals

A team of scientists discovered a well-preserved and fossilized worm dating back 518 million years ago, resembling the ancestor of three major living animals. Anatomical evidence supports the study.

Scientists unearthed the fossil in China. They have named it Wufengella, measuring a half-an-inch long worm.

According to research, Wufengella belonged to an extinct group of tommotiids or shelly organisms.

Researchers found that the worm was serialized like earthworms with visible lobes, bundles of bristles, and shells on the back.

Dr. Jakob Vinther said the discovery looked like the unlikely offspring of bristle worm and chiton mollusc, but it did not belong to those groups. Vinther is the study's co-author and from the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences,

On the other hand, the study's co-author Dr. Luke Parry said that the Wunfengella belonged to a group of Cambrian fossils. He said that it is crucial to understand the evolution of lophophorates.

Moreover, Parry said the discovered fossils could explain how brachiopods evolved into two shells. Parry is from the University of Oxford.

The research findings were reported in the Current Biology journal website and are available to read in Science Daily. 

Resemblance

According to the study, the animal kingdom has over 30 major body plans in phyla. What is amazing about these is that each phylum has different features. The study noted that only a few features could be seen or shared in other groups.

The researchers said Brachiopods have a pair of shells, a phylum associated with bivalves. Reefs, rocks, and seafloors are their living areas. The study added that using tentacles, they are capable of filtering water.

Moreover, the discovery shows two other major groups: phoronids (horseshoe worms) and bryozoans (moss animals).

Co-author Parry explained that Palaeontologists thought that the shells discovered were from an agile organism, which is different from being fixed in a place with a lophophore.

He added that he could not believe the result from the microscope of what the fossil was.

Furthermore, the study revealed anatomical evidence that brachiopods, bryozoans, and phoronids are the closest living relatives, showing a group called Lophophorata.

On the other hand, Dr. Vinther explained that the similarity reflects shared ancestry, noting that the lophophorates and annelids' ancestors resembled the anatomy of annelids.

The study said biologists noted the multiple pair body cavities of brachiopods, from the kidney structure and bundles of bristles on their backs.

Also Read: Fascinating Research Shows Octopuses Prefer Certain Arms in Hunting

Importance of Fossils

Moreover, co-author Greg Edgecombe emphasized the importance of fossils for reconstructing the evolution, which helps trace back the lineage to its roots.

Edgecombe is from the Natural History Museum.

Based on the research, the team behind the study consists of

• University of Oxford
• University of Bristol
• Chengjiang Museum of Natural History
• Yunnan University
• Natural History Museum in London
• Muséum national d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris

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