Short Wave The Nightmarish Worm That Lived 25 Million Years Longer Than Researchers Thought
Apr 17, 2024
Karma Nanglu, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology, explores the mysterious Selkirkia worms from the Cambrian period and their surprising survival 25 million years longer than thought. This discovery reshapes our understanding of evolutionary timelines. With a focus on the longevity and adaptive strategies of these ancient creatures, Karma discusses how new fossil evidence challenges traditional boundaries between the Cambrian and Ordovician periods, highlighting the importance of conservation paleobiology in preserving our understanding of Earth's history.
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Time-Traveling Worms
- Researchers believed Selkirkia worms died out with the Cambrian period's mass extinction.
- However, new fossils reveal they survived 25 million years longer, into the Ordovician period.
Fossil Discovery
- In 2021, researchers found tubular fossils in Morocco's Fezouada Formation, initially mistaken for conularids.
- Closer examination revealed these were Selkirkia worm fossils, surprising because they were thought extinct.
Worm Longevity
- The discovery extends the Selkirkia worms' existence by 25 million years, totaling a 40-million-year lifespan.
- Their simple lifestyle, building tubes and ambushing prey, proved effective for survival.