XPost: talk.politics.misc, alt.science, alt.politics
https://phys.org/news/2024-10-scientists-earth-earliest-animals-australian.html
In the shadow of South Australia's largest mountain range
beneath the outback soil lies a fossil record that reveals
a rich history of life on Earth. Fossils found at Nilpena
Ediacara National Park preserve a pivotal moment in the
history of evolution: the crucial period during which
single-celled organisms began to evolve into the planet's
first complex, visible animals.
A new discovery in the area by Scott Evans, assistant
professor of geology in the Florida State University
Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, and
a multi-institution team of paleontologists has identified
an early marine animal from around 555 million years ago.
The discovery helps answer how life evolved on Earth.
Quaestio simpsonorum is the first animal to show a definitive
left-right asymmetry, an important sign of evolutionary
development. The team's findings appear in Evolution & Development.
. . .
It's a 'worm' about 4 inches long.
Note that signs of the earliest "life" have been
roughly dated to almost 4 BILLION years - not that
long after the last gigantic meteor bombardment.
Complex life - including 'animals' came much MUCH
later. Almost our entire history was single-celled
goop.
Bilateral symmetry has become the de-facto blueprint
for animals - oddities like lobsters with one extra-
large claw aside. This new find seems to be the first
of such animals. Of course more analysis is still
needed, but this IS a significant find and a useful
time-mark from which to date other life.
There have been some "nightmare" animal fossils
found - not really any symmetry - from around
the same period.
The central Australian land-mass is one of the oldest
surviving bits of rock in the world. There are some
other bits, in northern Canada I think, about the
same age. These likely took shape shortly after the
'late heavy bombardment' event. Nothing special, just
pure luck they weren't churned-under since.
Ya know however ... a 4" worm - were PROBABLY some
smaller previous examples - litle half-inch jobbies,
perhaps early relatives.
Anyway, when the ETs ask, proudly declare your
worm heritage !
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