Scientists discover 'legless, headless wonder' that predated the dinosaurs
Paleontologists are marveling over the unique fossil of a marine species that predated the dinosaurs, according to new research.
The fossil, dated to about 444 million years ago, contained a new species of arthropod that fossilized inside-out, earning the description of a "legless, headless wonder," according to a paper published in the journal Palaeontology last week.
MORE: Ancient parasitic 'Venus flytrap' wasp found preserved in amber
The "exceptionally preserved" euarthropod was found with its muscles, sinews, tendons and guts all preserved in "unimaginable detail," said Sarah Gabbott, a professor at the University of Leicester's school of geology and lead author of the paper, said in a statement.
"Remarkably her insides are a mineralised time-capsule," Gabbott said, adding that the specimen's head and legs were lost to decay over hundreds of millions of years.
The new species was dubbed "Keurbos susanae," or "Sue" -- after the mother of the woman who discovered it. Researchers are certain it is primitive marine arthropod, but the precise evolutionary relationships remains "frustratingly elusive," Gabbott said.
The fossil was located on Soom Shale, a band of silts and clays about 250 miles north of Cape Town, South Africa. At the time the strata was laid down, a "devastating" glaciation had wiped out about 85% of Earth's species -- one of the "big five" mass extinctions in Earth's history, the researchers said.
MORE: What scientists learned from a well-preserved fossil of this iconic Jurassic-era species
But the marine basin where Sue was found was somehow protected from the worst of the freezing conditions and provided shelter for a community of "fascinating" species, according to the paper.
"This fossil is just so beautifully preserved there's so much anatomy there that needs interpreting," Gabbott said. "Layer upon on layer of exquisite detail and complexity."
The sediments that trapped the specimen were extremely toxic, the researchers said. The water contained no oxygen, but hydrogen sulphide -- described as not only "stinky" but deadly -- was dissolved in the water, the researchers said.
An unusual chemical alchemy may have been responsible for the unique way Sue was fossilized, the researchers hypothesized.
About 85% of the animals on Earth today are arthropods -- including shrimps, lobsters, spiders, mites, millipedes and centipedes, the paper states.
MORE: How the process of de-extinction will be used to restore this fabled species
The downside to Sue's unique fossilization is it makes it hard to compare the specimen with other fossils of similar species of the time.
"So it remains a mystery how she fits into the evolutionary tree of life," according to the researchers.
Scientists discover 'legless, headless wonder' that predated the dinosaurs originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements relating to Jade's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future of its pipeline and business including, without limitation, Jade's ability to achieve the expected benefits or opportunities with respect to JADE101, JADE201 and the JADE-003 program, including without limitation the expected timelines for JADE101 entering the clinic and interim data from such trial, the potential of Jade's product candidates to become best-in-class therapies and their potential therapeutic uses, efficacy, dosing, safety and market opportunities. 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These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond Jade's control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. 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Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of Jade's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this communication, which speak only as of the date they are made and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements herein. Jade does not undertake or accept any duty to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements. This communication does not purport to summarize all of the conditions, risks and other attributes of an investment in Jade. Jade Biosciences Media & Investor Contacts Priyanka ShahEmail: Media@ Email: IR@ Phone: 908-447-6134Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
