This fossil—from one of the first lineages of arthropods—is a vital piece of the evolutionary puzzle that led to insects, spiders, and crabs.
This little larva flourished in the ancient Cambrian waters, oblivious to the role it would play in scientific history over a million years later.Researchers from Durham University discovered an unexpected detail in the fossil: the ancient creature’s preserved brain.
“When I used to daydream about the one fossil I’d most like to discover, I’d always be thinking of an arthropod larva, because developmental data are just so central to understanding their evolution,” said Martin Smith, lead researcher from Durham University. This worm fossil belongs to the euarthropod group, which includes insects, spiders, and crabs. The examination also revealed that the organism died prematurely, while in its larval developmental phase. However, it was full of surprises.
Smith added: “I already knew that this simple worm-like fossil was something special, but when I saw the amazing structures preserved under its skin, my jaw just dropped – how could these intricate features have avoided decay and still be here to see half a billion years later?”— from one of the first lineages of arthropods — is an important piece of the evolutionary puzzle that led to insects, spiders, and crabs.
Interestingly, this tiny time capsule has shown that the building blocks for the complex brains of today’s arthropods were already present in this ancient creature.
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