Fossilized Brains of Ancient 'Sea Monster' Discovered in Greenland

[PHDNM]

Fossilized Brains of Ancient 'Sea Monster' Discovered in Greenland

The discovery of not just one, but 15 fossilized brains from a 520-million-year-old marine predator is helping scientists understand how ancient brains evolved into the complex command centers they are today.

The creature in question, Kerygmachela kierkegaardi — a bizarre, oval-shaped water beast that had two long appendages on its head, 11 swimming flaps on each side and a skinny tail — isn't new to science, but its brain is, said study co-lead researcher Jakob Vinther, a United Kingdom-based paleontologist.

https://www.livescience.com/62029-on...st-brains.html

[ovidiu]

That's really cool. This isn't even an arthropod but some really early sea-worm type thing. Apparently they're sort of related to tardigrades/water bears. The brain as an organ wasn't around that long at this time too. It was still quite primitive