Scientists have unveiled the world’s first known tapeworm body fossil, preserved in a 100-million-year-old amber, offering unprecedented insights into the evolution of parasites during the dinosaur era.
An international team of researchers discovered the fossilized tapeworm in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber from northern Myanmar, dating back approximately 100 million years. The finding was announced by the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“This discovery is extraordinary because soft-bodied organisms like tapeworms are rarely fossilized,” said a paleontologist at the Nanjing Institute. “The amber has preserved the specimen in remarkable detail, allowing us to study its morphology and understand how ancient parasites interacted with their hosts.”
The tapeworm fossil provides direct evidence of parasitic relationships that existed during the mid-Cretaceous period. Previously, knowledge of ancient parasites was limited due to the scarcity of fossilized soft-bodied organisms.
Kachin amber from Myanmar is renowned for its ability to preserve delicate organisms, offering a unique glimpse into the ecosystems that existed during the time of the dinosaurs. This discovery adds to the growing body of knowledge about the diversity of life forms preserved in amber.
“Understanding the evolution of parasitic organisms is crucial for comprehending the history of life on Earth,” the paleontologist added. “This fossil helps fill a gap in the fossil record and provides valuable information about the complex interactions between species millions of years ago.”
The study not only advances the field of paleontology but also has implications for evolutionary biology, helping scientists trace the lineage and development of parasitic species through time.
The research findings have been published in a recent scientific journal, contributing significantly to our understanding of ancient ecosystems and the organisms that inhabited them.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
