A MUN graduate has discovered a species new to science among fossils preserved in Newfoundland rock dating back more than 550 million years.
Master of science student in palaeobiology, Heléna Muirhead-Hunt, found the fossils at a site (known as the Inner Meadow) in Upper Island Cove, known for its exceptional preservation of soft-bodied organisms.
Heléna Muirhead-Hunt at Upper Island Cove (submitted photo)
She says when the first specimen was uncovered, they knew right away that they were onto something really special.
The fossils are close relatives of a group of stem-ctenophores known in much younger deposits in British Columbia.
From left are lab members and guests Heléna Muirhead-Hunt, Dr. Latha Menon, Ben Rideout and Simon Rosse-Guillevic working on the E. M. Coombs Surface in Conception Bay. (via MUN Gazette)
The new fossil has been named Edrathina obditchia, borrowed from the two Beothuk words for comb and beast.
Researchers expect that the discovery will add fuel to the “fiery debate on the oldest animal ancestor.”
