A recent scientific discovery has unveiled the existence of a primitive marine predator, Timorebestia, believed to be a predecessor to modern arrow worms. These tiny creatures, known as arrow worms today, play a vital role as predators in the ocean’s food web, preying on foundational organisms like zooplankton. The fossils of Timorebestia date back a staggering 538 million years, surpassing the known fossils of ancient arthropods, including insects, spiders, and crustaceans.
Dr. Jakob Vinther, an associate professor at the University of Bristol, notes the significance of Timorebestia and arrow worms in the context of early oceanic ecosystems. “Both arrow worms, and the more primitive Timorebestia, were swimming predators,” explains Vinther. “We can therefore surmise that in all likelihood they were the predators that dominated the oceans before arthropods took off. Perhaps they had a dynasty of about 10–15 million years before they got superseded by other, and more successful, groups.”
Behaviors of ancient aquatic worms Timorebestia
The Cambrian Explosion, a period marked by rapid evolutionary diversification, witnessed a dramatic reshuffling of the oceanic food web. Some scientists propose that the era of ‘wormworld’ played a crucial role in this transformative phase. The unique features and behaviors of ancient aquatic worms, including Timorebestia, are considered evolutionary breakthroughs that increased the diversity of ocean ecosystems during this critical period.
Timorebestia, in particular, may have represented an essential step in the development of internal jaws among predators. While its modern descendants, arrow worms, use external bristles to catch prey, the ancestral species may have introduced innovative predatory strategies to early oceanic environments.
Field expedition leader Tae Yoon Park from the Korean Polar Research Institute highlights the significance of ongoing research in revealing the mysteries of early animal ecosystems. “Over a series of expeditions to the very remote Sirius Passet in the furthest reaches of North Greenland… we have collected a great diversity of exciting new organisms,” says Park. “We have many more exciting findings to share in the coming years that will help show how the earliest animal ecosystems looked like and evolved.”
The discovery of Timorebestia opens a window into the ancient oceans, providing valuable insights into the dynamics and evolution of early marine life. As researchers continue to explore and analyze fossils from this era, they anticipate further revelations that will enhance our understanding of Earth’s earliest ecosystems and the diverse array of organisms that inhabited them.
Reference: https://www.sciencealert.com/giant-predator-worm-that-ruled-ancient-oceans-discovered-in-greenland
