Ancient ‘wormworld’ fossils reveal giant carnivorous worms

### **Scientists Discover Giant Carnivorous Worm Fossils from Earth’s ‘Wormworld’**

* **What did the giant carnivorous worm discovered by scientists look like?** The worm, named Timorebestia koprii, was approximately 30 centimeters long, had gigantic jaws, long antennae, and rippling fins.
* **What evidence supports the idea that the ancient worm was an important predator?** The fossilized remains of the worm contained evidence of food in their digestive systems, specifically bivalved arthropods called Isoxys.
* **How does this discovery contribute to our understanding of Earth’s early animal ecosystems?** The existence of these giant worm predators suggests that they may have dominated the oceans before arthropods emerged. This finding provides insight into the diversity and complexity of ancient marine ecosystems.
* **What is the significance of the Cambrian Explosion?** The Cambrian Explosion refers to a period of rapid evolutionary diversification that occurred approximately 541 million years ago, leading to the emergence of diverse animal phyla. It reshuffled the food web and marked a critical turning point in the evolution of life on Earth.
* **What future research is planned based on these findings?** The scientists involved in the discovery have expressed excitement about additional findings from their expeditions in North Greenland. They expect that these future discoveries will further contribute to our understanding of early animal ecosystems and their evolution.

Link to the original story: https://citylife.capetown/ai/giant-predator-worm-that-ruled-ancient-oceans-discovered-in-greenland/574659/