Paleontologists make 'one in a million' discovery of soft tissue preserved in 450-million-year-old fossil
A 450-million-year-old fossil of the sea creature Dendrocrinus simcoensis has been found with preserved soft tissue.
The story so far
Paleontologists have uncovered a rare fossil specimen of the sea creature Dendrocrinus simcoensis. The find is notable for the preservation of soft tissue dating back 450 million years, which predates the existence of dinosaurs by 200 million years.
Coverage from IFLScience, EurekAlert!, La Brújula Verde, Gizmodo, and Phys.org highlights the rarity of the discovery. Outlets describe the finding as a one-in-a-million occurrence due to the condition of the preserved biological material.
Future updates will likely depend on further scientific analysis of the specimen. Coverage does not yet specify the implications of the discovery for broader paleontological research.
Synthesized by headlinez.news from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 43d ago.
The obvious questions
What was discovered?
A 450-million-year-old fossil of a sea creature identified as Dendrocrinus simcoensis featuring preserved soft tissue.
How old is the fossil?
The fossil is approximately 450 million years old, placing it 200 million years before the time of dinosaurs.
Why is this discovery considered significant?
It is classified by researchers as a one-in-a-million find because of the rare preservation of soft tissue from that time period.
Sources (5)
- Astonishing 450-Million-Year-Old Fossil Preserving Soft Tissue Is "One In A Million" IFLScience · 46d ago
- Dendrocrinus simcoensis EurekAlert! · 46d ago
- Astonishingly Well-Preserved Soft Tissues Discovered in a Fossil 200 Million Years Older Than Dinosaurs La Brújula Verde · 46d ago
- Scientists Find Super-Rare Soft Tissue Fossil From 450-Million-Year-Old Sea Creature Gizmodo · 46d ago
- Paleontologists make 'one in a million' discovery of soft tissue preserved in 450-million-year-old fossil Phys.org · 46d ago
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