The 550-million-year-old mysterious creature reveals strange evolution on Earth

The fossil of this creature is helping scientists reinforce the hypothesis of life on Earth.

The fossil of this creature is helping scientists reinforce the hypothesis of life on Earth.

Ancient creatures reveal the evolution of the Earth

Life on Earth appeared 4.1 billion years ago. But it was not until 542 million years ago, after the Cambrian explosion , that life on Earth began to evolve, becoming more complex and diverse like today's creatures.

However, recent fossil evidence suggests that living organisms have evolved very strongly at a time before the explosion. More specifically, it is the fossil of the ancient creature Tribrachidium - a mysterious creature.

Picture 1 of The 550-million-year-old mysterious creature reveals strange evolution on Earth

Tribrachidium fossil - 550 million-year-old mysterious creature.

For further research, experts at the University of Toronto Mississauga (Canada) used a computer simulation system to verify this fossil-based nutrient absorption mechanism. Dr. Marc Laflamme, co-author of the study, said: "Tribrachidium is not like any other modern creature. Therefore, determining how it looks when alive is a difficult thing."

However, the initial test steps show that Tribrachidium lives under the ocean, and is capable of sucking food without moving. This proves that this creature can be classified as: Passive Suspension feeder . If true, this will be the oldest proof of this nutrient absorption mechanism in Earth's history.

Picture 2 of The 550-million-year-old mysterious creature reveals strange evolution on Earth

Art scans of Tribrachidium.(Photo: Masato Hattori).

According to Dr. Simon Darroch of Vanderbilt University (USA): "For years, scientists believe that the oldest organism with complex structure has two ways to absorb nutrients. But with this research, we have The concept of Tribrachidium, even other species, has a mechanism of passive waiting.

The study is published in the journal Science Advance.

Update 17 December 2018
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