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Fossil monsters were the dominant predators during the Cambrian period.
Fossils of "giant" predatory worms more than half a billion years old have been discovered in Northern Greenland. A new group of carnivorous animals found in the Sirius Passet area dates back to the Early Cambrian period. These large worms may have been among the first predators to populate the aquatic environment more than 518 million years ago, suggesting the existence of a previously unknown dynasty of predators.
The newly discovered fossil animals were named Timorebestia, which means "beasts of terror" in Latin. They had fins along their bodies, a prominent head with long antennae, massive jaw structures and reached a length of more than 30 cm, making them one of the largest swimming animals of the early Cambrian period.
"We already knew that primitive arthropods were the dominant predators during the Cambrian period, such as the strange – looking anomalocaridids," says Dr Jakob Winter from the University of Bristol. "However, Timorebestia is a distant but close relative of modern arrowheads, which today are small oceanic predators."
"Our study shows that these ancient oceanic ecosystems were quite complex, with the food chain allowing for multiple levels of predators to exist."
Remains of the common swimming arthropod Isoxys have been found in the fossil digestive system of Timorebestia. "We see that these arthropods were a food source for many other animals," says Morten Lunde Nielsen, a former PhD student at the University of Bristol.
Arrowheads are one of the oldest fossils of the Cambrian period. Although arthropods appear in the fossil series around 521-529 million years ago, arrowheads can be traced back at least 538 million years.
"Timorebestia is a significant discovery that helps to understand the origin of jawed predators. Today, arrowhawks have threatening bristles on the outside of their heads for catching prey, while Timorebestia had their jaws inside the head, " adds Luke Perry of the University of Oxford.
"We are excited to discover such unique predators in Sirius Passet. Thanks to a series of expeditions to remote areas of Northern Greenland, we have collected many new organisms. The remarkable conservation at Sirius Passet also allows us to uncover fascinating anatomical details," concludes study author Dr. Park.
The study is published in the journal Science Advances.
Fossils of "giant" predatory worms more than half a billion years old have been discovered in Northern Greenland. A new group of carnivorous animals found in the Sirius Passet area dates back to the Early Cambrian period. These large worms may have been among the first predators to populate the aquatic environment more than 518 million years ago, suggesting the existence of a previously unknown dynasty of predators.
The newly discovered fossil animals were named Timorebestia, which means "beasts of terror" in Latin. They had fins along their bodies, a prominent head with long antennae, massive jaw structures and reached a length of more than 30 cm, making them one of the largest swimming animals of the early Cambrian period.
"We already knew that primitive arthropods were the dominant predators during the Cambrian period, such as the strange – looking anomalocaridids," says Dr Jakob Winter from the University of Bristol. "However, Timorebestia is a distant but close relative of modern arrowheads, which today are small oceanic predators."
"Our study shows that these ancient oceanic ecosystems were quite complex, with the food chain allowing for multiple levels of predators to exist."
Remains of the common swimming arthropod Isoxys have been found in the fossil digestive system of Timorebestia. "We see that these arthropods were a food source for many other animals," says Morten Lunde Nielsen, a former PhD student at the University of Bristol.
Arrowheads are one of the oldest fossils of the Cambrian period. Although arthropods appear in the fossil series around 521-529 million years ago, arrowheads can be traced back at least 538 million years.
"Timorebestia is a significant discovery that helps to understand the origin of jawed predators. Today, arrowhawks have threatening bristles on the outside of their heads for catching prey, while Timorebestia had their jaws inside the head, " adds Luke Perry of the University of Oxford.
"We are excited to discover such unique predators in Sirius Passet. Thanks to a series of expeditions to remote areas of Northern Greenland, we have collected many new organisms. The remarkable conservation at Sirius Passet also allows us to uncover fascinating anatomical details," concludes study author Dr. Park.
The study is published in the journal Science Advances.
