Soft Tissue Found in 450-Million-Year-Old Crinoid Fossil

Paleontologists have discovered preserved soft tissue in a 450-million-year-old crinoid fossil, marking only the second known case of such preservation in crinoids and the oldest ever recorded Source: ClarinSource: Infobae.

The discovery

The fossil, from the species Dendrocrinus simcoensis, was identified in the collections of the Museum of Paleontology and Evolution of Montreal, not during fieldwork Source: Clarin. It preserves ambulacral feet, structures essential for feeding and interaction with currents. Lena Cole of the University of Oklahoma described the preservation as requiring exceptional conditions, like a "natural refrigerator or vacuum sealing" Source: Infobae.

Significance

David Wright compared the ambulacral feet to mammalian teeth, revealing diet and habitat Source: Clarin. The discovery provides insights into early Paleozoic oceans and the evolution of crinoid feeding strategies. "It's incredible that these soft tissues have survived more than 450 million years," Wright said Source: Infobae. The rarity of such preservation underscores the importance of museum collections Source: Clarin.