Fossils Of Ancient Mud Dragons Discovered In South China
- 8 years ago
Researchers have discovered the fossils of an ancient microscopic worm in South China believed to be the ancestor of present-day mud dragons.
Researchers from Virginia Tech have discovered the fossilized remains of mud dragons from over 530 million years ago.
Mud dragons are the common name given to kinorhynch worms—tiny invertebrates with exoskeletons and segmented bodies lacking jointed legs.
According to Shuhai Xiao, a professor of geobiology at Virginia Tech, "Kinos represent an animal group that is related to arthropods -- insects, shrimps, spiders, etc. -- which are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. Although arthropod fossils date back to more than 530 million years ago, no kino fossils have ever been reported.”
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Researchers from Virginia Tech have discovered the fossilized remains of mud dragons from over 530 million years ago.
Mud dragons are the common name given to kinorhynch worms—tiny invertebrates with exoskeletons and segmented bodies lacking jointed legs.
According to Shuhai Xiao, a professor of geobiology at Virginia Tech, "Kinos represent an animal group that is related to arthropods -- insects, shrimps, spiders, etc. -- which are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. Although arthropod fossils date back to more than 530 million years ago, no kino fossils have ever been reported.”
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