Luke Parry, a paleobiology professor at Oxford University, recently discovered a fossil in New York state preserved in pyrite, also known as fool’s gold. The fossil, a previously unknown species of arthropod dating back 450 million years to the Ordovician Period, was announced in a report published in Current Biology. This finding sheds light on what these ancient animals looked like and challenges previous assumptions about the evolution of arthropods.
The fossil, named Lomankus edgecombei, was scanned by Parry in 2019 and provides detailed insight into the evolution of life in the oceans millions of years ago. The pyrite preserved the specimen in such a way that internal body parts are visible, giving scientists a rare opportunity to study the ancient arthropod in great detail.
The discovery of this well-preserved fossil challenges the belief that arthropods flourished only during the Cambrian Period, suggesting that they continued to evolve during the Ordovician Period. The team’s findings highlight the significance of the fossil in understanding the evolution of life on Earth and contribute to ongoing research in paleobiology.
According to co-author Derek Briggs, the pyrite material filling in the fossilized arthropod provides critical evidence of life in the oceans millions of years ago. Parry described the fossils as “spectacularly preserved,” noting their lifelike appearance. This discovery serves as a reminder of the remarkable creatures that existed in the distant past and the importance of studying fossils to learn about Earth’s history.
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