Discover the oldest animal fossils

Scientists discovered fossils of the oldest animal life ever in volcanic lava layers in Canada. These fossils date back more than 579 million years.

The team from Oxford University and Cambridge (UK), in partnership with Memorial University (Canada), discovered more than 100 fossils believed to be of rangeomorph - a frond -like organ of ferns. living from 550 million to 580 million years ago.

Fossils of the new rangeomorph species
The discovery dates to 579 million years ago.

The rangeomorph fossil, which is shaped like a goose coral today, was discovered by scientists under layers of rock in the Mistaken Point ecological conservation area in Newfoundland, Canada.

Dr. Martin Brasier, a member of the research team, said that the fossils were found to be very small with a length of less than 3cm and a majority less than 6mm. They are only in early growth and when they mature they can reach a length of up to 2m.

After analyzing fossil samples, the team found evidence that they are the oldest complex multicellular living organism on Earth living in the Ediacaran century (about 542-635 million years ago). .

'These are the oldest animal fossils ever discovered. We think they date to about 579 years ago. They live on the seabed and are then buried under volcanic lava on a nearby island, ' Dr. Martin Brasier said on the Daily Mail.

This finding reinforces the previously proposed scientific hypothesis that the first animal life form appeared on Earth about 579 million years ago, with comb-shaped living organisms up to 2m long. .