UC Berkeley Identifies Earth’s Oldest Animal Species Ctenophores Dating 700 Million Years

Recent scientific discoveries have shed new light on ancient marine life and the early evolution of animals. UC Berkeley researchers have identified comb jellies as likely the first animals to evolve, suggesting complex traits like nervous systems may have evolved multiple times and that multicellularity has diverse origins. A remarkably well-preserved 183-million-year-old plesiosaur fossil found in Germany offers unprecedented insights into the skin, scales, and movement of these Jurassic marine reptiles, revealing details previously unknown due to the rarity of soft tissue preservation. Additionally, a giant mosasaur fossil, dating back roughly 66 million years and discovered in the Mississippi River, provides a glimpse into the Late Cretaceous period and has been studied using 3D geological mapping. These findings collectively enhance our understanding of marine creatures' evolution and adaptation across different geological eras. Together, they illustrate the ongoing efforts to unravel the history of life beneath the seas from ancient multicellular organisms to large marine reptiles.