An ancient predatory insect dating back some 518 million years has been discovered in northern Greenland. A treasure trove of early Cambrian fossils awaits there in the Sirius Passet Lagerstätte.A new animal that has appeared in science has been given a name. Timole BestiaMeaning “terrifying beast” in Latin, their discovery reveals new insights into a group of intriguing predatory worms still alive today.
Arrowworms, also known as trichognathids, are extant marine predators that hunt small zooplankton in the ocean.Today, they range from approx. 3-100mm (0.118 to 4 inches), but newly discovered Timole Bestia Copley A related species was a relatively monster, about 30 centimeters long.
Discovered at a fossil site more than 518 million years old, researchers believe these gigantic fearsome insects may be some of the earliest carnivores that hunted in the water column during the early Cambrian period. It is being They were strange-looking creatures with long antennae and impressive jaws on their heads. This distinguishes them from arrow worms, which have external jaws.
Timole Bestia Copley and distinctive long antennae. This is the largest known specimen, measuring approximately 30 centimeters or 12 inches long.
Image credit: Dr. Jacob Vinther
Although wormy, the length of a ruler may not sound so intimidating to modern people. homo sapiensit would have been a significant threat to the animals sharing the water column. Timole Bestia‘s heyday.
“Our study shows that these ancient marine ecosystems were fairly complex, with food chains that allowed for several layers of predators,” said the study’s senior author. said Dr Jacob Vinter, from the School of Earth and Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol. statement.
“Timole Bestia They were the giants of their time and would have been near the top of the food chain. As such, they are as important as major carnivores in the modern ocean, such as Cambrian sharks and seals. ”
![Fossil of Timolevesta coprii owned by Dr. Jacob Winter Fossil of Timolevesta coprii owned by Dr. Jacob Winter](https://assets.iflscience.com/assets/articleNo/72283/iImg/73192/timorebestia koprii.png)
Timolevesta Copley Dr. Jacob Winter with fossils (left) and scales.
Image credit: Dr. Jacob Vinther
evidence of Timole Bestia‘s predation ability was discovered in its fossilized digestive system. Isoxis discovered. Isoxis It was a common swimming arthropod at the time, and its defenses were clearly useless. Timole Bestia.
“We can see these arthropods [were] food source [for] and many other animals,” added Morten Lunde Nielsen, a former PhD student at the University of Bristol and participant in the current study. “They were very common in the Sirius Passet and had long protective spines pointing both forward and backward. But it is clear that they did not succeed in avoiding that fate completely. is. Timole Bestia I munched on them in large quantities. ”
Its success as a marine hunter appears to have added a previously unrecognized dynasty of predators to our marine history. Timole Bestia And before the arrival of arthropods, arrowworms probably dominated the oceans. Vinther estimates that their reign may have lasted 10 to 15 million years, as they were replaced by more successful animals.
![Fossil of Timolevesta coprii Fossil of Timolevesta coprii](https://assets.iflscience.com/assets/articleNo/72283/iImg/73193/timorebestia worm.png)
The research team used electron microscopy to map the carbon in the fossil, revealing anatomical features such as fin rays and musculature.
Image credit: Dr. Jacob Vinther
“We are very excited to have discovered such a unique predator on Sirius Passet,” said Tae Yoon Park of the Korea Polar Research Institute, another senior author and field expedition leader. I concluded. “During a series of expeditions to the Sirius Pass, located at the farthest reaches of northern Greenland, over 82.5 degrees north, we collected a wide variety of interesting new species. Thanks to the remarkable and exceptional conservation of the Sirius Passet , it can also reveal interesting anatomical details such as the digestive system, muscular anatomy, and nervous system.”
“We have many more exciting discoveries to share in the coming years that will help show what early animal ecosystems looked like and how they evolved.”
This research scientific progress.