March 28, 2024

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Scientists find a fossil of a species that does not exceed a millimeter and has eight legs

Scientists find a fossil of a species that does not exceed a millimeter and has eight legs

A team of experts has identified a fossil of a new species they named Paradoryphoribius chronocaribbeus. It is a relative of the modern family of tardigrades known as Isohypsibioidea. This discovery assumes The first fossil tardigrades from the Cenozoic era, the era that began 66 million years ago and to which man belongs.

as collected CNN, The discovered species resembled small water bears. Although it is common to find them on this surface, tardigrades are known for their ability to survive and even Ride through the harshest environments.

They also have a size of just over a millimeter, eight clawed feet, a brain and central nervous system and something like a suction cup (pharynx) behind the mouth for grinding food. At the moment, tardigrades They are the smallest legged animal known.

‘unique event’

The discovery of the fossil of tardigrades It really is a once-in-a-generation eventPhil Bardeen, lead author of the study and assistant professor of biology at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, said in a statement United State.

“What is remarkable is that tardigrades are an ancient breed that is ubiquitous and has seen everything on Earth, From the fall of the dinosaurs to the rise of colonization of the earthBarden recalls. However, it is like the fictitious lineage of paleontologists, as there are almost no fossil records. Search for any rest […] It’s an exciting time where we can empirically see its progression through Earth’s history.”

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Tardigrades are able to withstand extremes better than most life forms (such as surviving five mass extinctions on Earth). In fact, some He traveled not so long ago to the International Space Station. While it may surprise more than one, this isn’t the first time tardigrades have traveled to space, and it’s even possible that some have been on the Moon after a mission crashing into its surface.