The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), in Canada, has carried out a study where it has identified the oldest swimming jellyfish ever found in the fossil record, which they have named Burgessomedusa phasmiformis, according to the Proceedings of the Royal Society B magazine. .
This species dates back 500 million years, providing valuable insight into the evolution of these enigmatic marine organisms.
In the nearly two hundred specimens, remarkable details of the internal anatomy and tentacles of the jellyfish are observed. Some of these specimens reach more than 20 centimeters in length, providing a wealth of information about these fascinating marine creatures.
Compared to modern jellyfish, it is estimated that this ancient species also had the ability to swim freely, and the presence of tentacles suggests that it was capable of capturing large prey.
The Burgessomedusa phasmiformis finding represents an exciting advance in understanding the biological diversity that has existed throughout the planet’s history, as well as unique insight into the behavior and ecology of jellyfish in the distant past.
In addition, it reminds us that there is still much to discover in the fossil record and that science continues to reveal surprises about life on Earth for millions of years.
