Life evolved through an explosion on earth

A new study suggests that life on Earth may have flourished through two " explosions " rather than just one.

The largest diversity of species on earth occurred 542 million years ago in the Cambrian explosion. But scientists argue that a similar and rapid evolutionary explosion occurred before this time of 33 million years. This explosion is named Avalon.

Shuhai Xiao, Virginia Tech paleontologist, said: 'In the splendor of macroscopic life, which was about 575 to 520 million years ago, there was not only one but at least two important periods. out unexpected morphological expansion. '

This is a new study, published in the January 4 issue of Science magazine. This work examines life on Earth during the Ediacaran period from 635 to 542 million years ago. Scientists compared more than 200 different species to conclude the body morphology and species richness that took place during that time period.

Although this was the first biodiversity explosion, the animals that lived during Ediacaran's time disappeared before the Cambrian explosion.'Avalon explosion is an independent and failed experiment compared to the same evolutionary pattern in the Cambrian explosion.'

A fossil of 565 million years in Newfoundland, Canada (Photo: LiveScience)