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Field locations in the Northwest Territories of Canada where fossils that may represent the earliest known animal life? sponges that lived roughly 890 million years ago were found in mountainous terrain are seen in this undated handout image. Handout via REUTERS
Washington, July 28
Fossils found in rugged mountainous terrain in Canada's Northwest Territories may give a glimpse at the humble dawn of animal life on Earth — sea sponges that inhabited primordial reefs built by bacteria roughly 890 million years ago.
A Canadian researcher said on Wednesday the fossils, dating to a time called the Neoproterozoic Period, appear to show distinctive microstructures from the body of a sea sponge built similarly to a species living today called the Mediterranean bath sponge, or Spongia officinalis.