In Canada, the oldest species of jellyfish was discovered – its age is over 500 million years
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The oldest specimens of jellyfish were discovered in the Canadian Rockies. Scientists assume that they lived on planet Earth 505 million years ago. This is reported by CNN. In total, researchers found 182 fossils in the Burgess Shale rock. They belong to the species Burgessomedusa phasmiformis and demonstrate the degree of evolution of these creatures. Since soft-bodied animals are 95% water, well-preserved fossils are a valuable find. The length of one jellyfish is about 20 cm. A detailed description of their research was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Jellyfish are meduzoa, animals with an umbrella-shaped body and stinging tentacles. Together with corals and sea anemones, they belong to the larger group of cnidaria (Cnidaria). Photo: Medusa (left) and Anomalocaris canadensis (right), the main arthropod predator of the Cambrian period/Desmond Collins/Royal Ontario Museum Members of the group can take many forms during life – including a vase-shaped polyp. Therefore, jellyfish begin with it, and then take the form of jellyfish. The number of Burgessomedusa phasmiformis fossils found at the site showed that the large swimming bell-shaped jellyfish originated more than 500 million years ago. “Although jellyfish and their relatives are considered one of the earliest groups of animals to have evolved, they have been extremely difficult to identify in the Cambrian fossil record. This discovery leaves no doubt that they were swimming at the time,” said study co-author Joe Moysiuk, a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Toronto. In addition, earlier it was more difficult for researchers to trace the origin of free-swimming jellyfish – individuals that acquired this ability during their lifetime. And although there are many samples, it is not so easy to sort them and study them. Many fossils have already been found in the Burgess shales. Researchers also came across detailed prints and contours of soft tissues and internal anatomy of rare species. Good preservation is due to the fact that an underwater avalanche of fine silt and mud quickly covered a large group of animals. Finally, the study of these species gradually complicates the ancient food chain and perception of predators. Burgessomedusa phasmiformis is currently on display at the Royal Ontario Museum. Earlier we talked about the largest 300,000-year-old hand axes found in Britain. Read also: Jellyfish the size of a person was discovered off the coast of Great Britain. VIDEO
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