Originally shared by Dins Barnett
A reconstruction of Hallucigenia's walking gait, created by Lars Fields.
Hallucigenia were tiny marine worms — commonly just 15 millimeters in length — that lived in the Cambrian period, when complex, multicellular life was starting to populate the Earth.
After decades, researchers have confirmed which side of Hallucigenia was the head, and found its circular "grinning" mouth lined with teeth, according to a new study. This toothy ring may be the link that connects creatures as diverse as spiders, nematode worms and teeny-tiny tardigrades — the cute and nearly indestructible micro animals also known as water bears.
#science #paleontology #evolution #nature
So cool.
ReplyDeleteI read Stephen Jay Gould's It's a Wonderful Life as a kid, and this was one of it's stars. Apparently at the time some people thought Hallucigenia walked on its spikes!
Andrew G "...connects creatures as diverse as spiders, nematode worms and teeny-tiny tardigrades..." -- Now, that is a missing link :-)
ReplyDeleteKent Crispin Also, eew. Lol ...
ReplyDelete