Your current location:HOME >world >Complete sponge fossil dating back to 540 mln years found in central China's Hunan 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 06:24:21 Source: Internet compilationEdit:world
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.
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored2024-05-21 06:01
China Sees 191 Million Underage Internet Users: Report2024-05-21 05:31
Paddy Rice Harvest in Huangfu Village, Northwest China's Shaanxi2024-05-21 05:23
China Focus: China Steps up Protecting Vulnerable Groups amid COVID2024-05-21 05:20
Yu Darvish extends scoreless innings streak to 25 in Padres' 92024-05-21 05:09
Paddy Rice Harvest in Huangfu Village, Northwest China's Shaanxi2024-05-21 05:08
China Actively Optimizes COVID2024-05-21 05:03
Autumn Harvest Across China2024-05-21 05:00
Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo2024-05-21 04:54
Interview: China to See Overall Stability in Employment in 2023: Minister2024-05-21 04:08
Strictly star Giovanni Pernice's former partner Rose Ayling2024-05-21 06:21
China Plans to Expand National Park System2024-05-21 06:17
China Starts Pilot Program to Build Better Urban Communities2024-05-21 05:44
Technicians Dispatched to Apply Agricultural Technology in Xingye County, S China's Guangxi2024-05-21 05:24
Baby Reindeer's real2024-05-21 04:58
China Reaches Quarterfinals at Women's Volleyball Worlds with Straight2024-05-21 04:48
Media Center for 20th CPC National Congress to Open on Oct. 122024-05-21 04:21
Highlights of BWF World Tour Finals 20232024-05-21 04:09
Inquiry slams UK authorities for failures that killed thousands in infected blood scandal2024-05-21 03:57
Internet Development Sweetens Apple Business on Loess Plateau2024-05-21 03:57