This species, Ophiactis hex, was uncovered during a 2018 excavation in southern Germany. The fossil, encased in limestone, was exceptionally well-preserved, capturing the creature in a moment of regeneration.
The clonal fragmentation allowed the organism to produce genetically identical offspring by breaking off parts of its own body and re-growing them - the process is called fissiparity.
The 155-million-years old six-armed brittle star was petrified in the process of regenerating one body half, providing compelling evidence clonal fragmentation in star-shaped echinoderms
Wild Find: Fossil Captures 155-Million-Year-Old Brittle Star Mid-Regeneration sciencealert.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sciencealert.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.