Palaeontology

Prehistoric worm with huge jaws discovered

By T.K. Randall
February 23, 2017 ·  8 comments

The new species would have been similar to today's bobbit worms. Image Credit: CC BY 2.0 Jenny Huang This terrifying ocean-dweller lived around 400 million years ago and had jaws over one centimeter in length - the largest ever seen in a species of worm. By comparison, the jaws of most worm fossils are mere millimetres in size and have to be viewed under a microscope.

At up to a meter in length, this remarkable species, which has been named Websteroprion armstrongi, is thought to have been similar to today's Bobbit worms - a type of ambush predator which lives on the ocean floor and uses its powerful jaws to grab unsuspecting prey.

Fossil of 'monster' worm with snapping jaws discovered #FNSciTech | https://t.co/I4Drz5hEJz pic.twitter.com/nf90qo8sZr

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"Gigantism in animals is an alluring and ecologically important trait, usually associated with advantages and competitive dominance," said study lead author Mats Eriksson.

"It is, however, a poorly understood phenomenon among marine worms and has never before been demonstrated in a fossil species. The new species demonstrates a unique case of polychaete gigantism in the Palaeozoic, some 400 million years ago."

Source: Phys.org | Comments (8)

Tags: Prehistoric, Worm