Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Scientists have unearthed a remarkable fossil specimen dating back 155 million years, revealing a starfish-like creature with the extraordinary ability to clone itself. This groundbreaking discovery sheds light on the ancient phenomenon of clonal fragmentation.
Credit: Thuy et al., Proc. R. Soc. B, 2024
The fossilized creature, resembling a starfish with six arms, possessed the remarkable capability to regenerate its body. Through a process known as clonal fragmentation, it could produce genetically identical offspring by breaking off and regrowing parts of its own body.
Credit: Günter Schweigert
The fossil was excavated in 2018 from a limestone deposit in Germany, which was once a deep lagoon teeming with coral meadows and sponge beds. This singular specimen represents a new species of brittle star, named Ophiactis hex by the researchers.
Credit: Günter Schweigert
The discovery holds significant implications for understanding the evolutionary history of clonal fragmentation, a phenomenon still shrouded in mystery. While the biology of clonal fragmentation is well understood, its geological evolution remains largely unexplored.
Credit: Thuy et al., Proc. R. Soc. B, 2024
The 155-million-year-old fossil is exceptionally well-preserved, allowing scientists to observe all hook-shaped arm spines. This level of preservation provides valuable insights into the creature's anatomical features and reproductive capabilities.
Credit: Viola Winkler via SWNS
The fossil specimen was named after a fictional supercomputer from Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, known for its ability to contemplate the unimaginable. This naming choice adds a whimsical touch to the scientific discovery.
While fossils of organisms with regenerating individual arms are relatively common, instances of creatures regenerating half their body are exceedingly rare. This specimen represents only the second known case of such regeneration in the fossil record.
Credit: RSocPublishing
The fossilized creature's regeneration appears intricately linked to its six-fold symmetry and clonal fragmentation, making it a unique case study in evolutionary biology. This adds to the understanding of how ancient organisms reproduced and adapted.
Credit: RSocPublishing
The discovery of the self-cloning starfish-like creature opens new avenues for further research into the evolutionary history of clonal fragmentation and its role in shaping ancient ecosystems. Scientists continue to investigate the implications of this finding for our understanding of prehistoric life forms.
Credit: Günter Schweigert