The fossil animal is about 480 million years old. Scientists have named it the missing link in evolution, uniting sea stars and sea lilies.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered a fossil of an ancient animal in Morocco's Anti-Atlas mountain range. The creature, named Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis, is believed to have lived approximately 480 million years ago.
The team researched the find, analyzed its characteristics and compared it to hundreds of modern star-like species. Scientists then tracked how Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis evolved into modern echinoderms. Details of the study are described in the journal Biology Letters.
But the fossil of the ancient animal is so well preserved that its body can finally be displayed in detail and understood the evolution of sea stars. "The level of detail in the fossil is amazing: its structure is so complex that it took us a while to investigate," said Aaron Hunter, author of the paper.
Reproduction Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis / © Madmeg
The new species is unusual in that it lacks about 60% of the features found in modern starfish. So, there are only the key or axial parts of the body and the alimentary groove, which directs food along each tentacle of the starfish. The rest of the features appeared in sea stars in the process of evolution.
Instead, Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis has traits common to starfish and sea lilies. Scientists believe this discovery reflects the early evolution of the animal's ancestor. It also allows you to trace how an ancient organism evolved into modern forms.
“Finding the missing link between existing animals and ancestors is incredibly exciting. If you went back in time and put your head under the water of that era, you would not recognize a single marine organism - with the exception of sea stars, these are one of the first modern animals,”said Hunter.
The authors plan to expand their work on finding early echinoderms. They hope to understand how and why starfish developed tentacles. “We still need to find a fossil that gives us a concrete explanation. But we're getting closer to it thanks to creatures like the Cantabrigiaster,”Hunter summed up.