Discovering the Past: A Fossil of a Starfish-like Creature with Unique Cloning Abilities Offers Valuable Insights into Evolutionary History

A fossil of a starfish-like creature, Ophiactis hex, was discovered by scientists in Germany. This unique organism had six arms and the ability to regenerate its body through clonal fragmentation. The fossil was found in a limestone deposit that once was a deep lagoon filled with coral meadows and sponge beds.

This discovery is significant because it sheds light on the evolutionary history of clonal fragmentation, which is still not fully understood by scientists. Dr. Ben Thuy, a palaeontologist at Luxembourg’s Musee national d’histoire naturelle, commented on the rarity and importance of this find in a new paper describing the discovery.

The fossil of Ophiactis hex is so well-preserved that all of its hook-shaped arm spines are visible. The new species was named after a magical supercomputer in a Terry Pratchett novel, known for its ability to think the unthinkable. Dr. Thuy and his research team noted that while fossils of starfish-like creatures with individual regenerating arms are relatively common, cases of individuals with regenerating body halves are exceedingly rare.

This particular fossil is only the second known case of such a phenomenon, and the first one in which regeneration seems to be linked to six-fold symmetry and clonal fragmentation. The study of Ophiactis hex provides valuable insights into the ancient history and evolution of these fascinating organisms.

Ophiactis hex’s ability to clone itself through clonal fragmentation is unique among starfish-like creatures, making it an important find for scientists studying this process. Its six arms and ability to regenerate its body parts also provide insight into how these organisms evolved over time.

Furthermore, this discovery has implications for understanding the evolutionary history of clonal fragmentation as a phenomenon still not fully understood by scientists today.

Overall, this discovery highlights the importance of preserving fossils like Ophiactis hex in order to gain valuable insights into our planet’s past and understand how organisms have evolved over time.

In conclusion, this 155-million-year-old fossil discovery sheds light on various aspects related to cloning capabilities and evolutionary history among starfish-like creatures like Ophiactis hex.