Approximately 100 million years ago, a newly discovered parasitic worm likely lived inside fish. The mystery of how it ended up preserved in amber, fossilized tree resin, has left paleontologists puzzled. Luo’s team, from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology in China, stumbled upon this unusual find while examining amber from Myanmar. This 10-millimeter-long specimen had unique features like armor, tentacles, and hooklets, resembling modern flatworms that infest sharks and rays. The rarity of finding body fossils of flatworms is highlighted by the soft bodies and transient life cycles of these creatures.
The fossil, described by taphonomist Raymond Rogers of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., as ”exceptional preservation,” presents a challenging puzzle for researchers to unravel.
2024-05-15 10:15:00
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