Your current location:HOME >sport >Complete sponge fossil dating back to 540 mln years found in central China's Hunan 正文
TIME:2024-05-01 10:05:44 Source: Internet compilationEdit:sport
Chinese researchers have recently unearthed a well-preserved large sponge fossil that dates back to
Chinese researchers have recently unearthed a well-preserved large sponge fossil that dates back to approximately 540 million years ago in the city of Changde, central China's Hunan Province, according to the Hunan Museum of Geology.
Described as a rare finding from the early Cambrian era, this sponge fossil holds immense scientific significance, offering invaluable insights into the early evolution of sponge animals, said Tong Guanghui, an associate researcher at the museum.
Measuring 4 cm in height and 3.5 cm in width at its broadest point, the sponge fossil exhibits a remarkable state of preservation, with the entire framework composed of siliceous spicules on the slate being meticulously conserved, he said.
"The discovery indicates that the ocean at that time already possessed a high level of primary productivity, with abundant planktonic organisms capable of supporting the survival of large sponges," he said. "It is probably that numerous other species also inhabited the ocean during that period, and future field investigations may confirm this speculation."
As the most primitive multicellular animals, sponges have appeared in the Earth's oceans approximately 600 million years ago. They attach themselves to sediments on the seabed, obtaining food from the seawater that flows past them.
The ship that brought down a Baltimore bridge to be removed from collapse site in the coming weeks2024-05-01 10:04
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia call for a cease2024-05-01 09:40
UN Security Council revisits Palestine's UN membership application2024-05-01 09:30
Artworks shine at the international consumer products expo2024-05-01 09:03
PGA Tour goes to Dallas for same course and new title. LIV Golf plays in Singapore2024-05-01 08:36
Firefighting variant of AG600 seaplane ready for type certification2024-05-01 08:22
Hamas says 19 killed in Israeli shelling near Gaza City, Israel denies2024-05-01 08:20
Red Sox's Tyler O'Neill left needing stitches after brutal collision with teammate Rafael Devers2024-05-01 08:08
North Carolina bill compelling sheriffs to aid ICE advances as first major bill this year2024-05-01 07:55
China's Tiandu satellites conduct Earth2024-05-01 07:51
Brazil soccer player Gabriel Barbosa cleared by CAS to play during appeal in doping rules case2024-05-01 09:41
The Paris Games' grandiose opening ceremony is being squeezed by security and transport issues2024-05-01 09:41
Jamie Oliver's Air Fryer Meals: Chef fails to impress in new Channel 4 series2024-05-01 09:28
ITV are quietly shelving a popular spin2024-05-01 09:06
Iran commutes a tycoon's death sentence to 20 years in prison2024-05-01 08:49
US Olympic committee strikes sponsorship deal to help athletes get degrees after they retire2024-05-01 08:12
China prepares to launch relay satellite Queqiao2024-05-01 08:10
Girls Aloud poke fun at iconic clip where Cheryl insisted they would NEVER get back together2024-05-01 07:56
Minor league infielder Keiner Delgado traded from Yankees to Pittsburgh Pirates2024-05-01 07:45
Zheng eases past Cîrstea in Stuttgart opener after long trip from China. Paolini also through2024-05-01 07:21