علماء يعثرون على حفرية لمخ كامل لسلطعون عمرها 310 مليون سنة
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اكتشاف أقدم نجم بحر عمره 480 مليون سنة في المغرب
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Fossil is ‘missing link’ between modern starfish and their ancestors – study
A fossil of the earliest starfish-like animal, called Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis, was discovered in Morocco (Yale University/PA)
A 480-million-year-old fossil found in Morocco is a “missing link” between modern-day starfish and their ancestors, a scientist has said.
The fossil, discovered in the Anti-Atlas mountain range, captures the early evolutionary steps of the animal at a time in Earth’s history when life suddenly expanded, a period known as the Ordovician Biodiversification Event.
The fossil species has an intricate design, with feathery arms akin to a lacework.
The origin of starfish has eluded scientists for decades but the new species is so well preserved that its body can finally be mapped in detail and its evolution understood, according to researchers.
A fossil starfish unearthed in Morocco that dates back 480 million years is a missing link between modern day crinoids and their ancestors, a study has reported.
Experts from Cambridge said that the fossil uncovered from within the so-called Fezouata shale of the Anti-Atlas mountain range is the oldest-known starfish.
It dates back to a period in Earth s history the so-called Ordovician Biodiversification Event when the life suddenly expanded.
The previous contender for the oldest starfish specimen on record was 50 million years younger, the researchers said.
Given the scientific name Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis , the ancient species has an intricate design, with feathery arms still visible in its fossil specimens.