This Tiny Crustacean Trapped in Amber Tells a Different Story About Crab Evolution
Elizabeth Gamillo/Smithsonianmag.com
A team of scientists has discovered the oldest aquatic animal preserved in amber. The tiny crab encased in tree resin is over 100 million years old, dating back to the Cretaceous era, according to the study published this week in Science Advances. The find—the most complete fossilized crab ever seen—is helping researchers piece together when the crustaceans began to migrate away from the sea.
Scientists can piece together what life was like millions of years ago from preserved specimens like amber fossils and bones. Insects, plants, feathers and microorganisms are specimens most likely to be found entrapped in amber. However, finding an aquatic critter fossilized in resin is extremely rare. “Finding a crab in amber is like finding a needle in a haystack,” Heather Bracken-Grissom, a biologist from Florida International University, not involved with the study, told Riley Black for National Geographic.
The animal is so well preserved that its compound eyes, claws, jointed legs and gills are visible in full detail, reports National Geographic. Using micro-CT scans, the international team visualized the crab’s body in 3D and even imaged its mouthparts lined with fine hairs. Read More:
She has traveled extensively, is a photographer, and writes on medical issues. Carol has three children RJ, Katherine, and Stephen – one daughter-in-law; Katie – two granddaughters; Isabella Marianna and Zoe Olivia – and one grandson, Alexander Paul. She also shares her life with husband Gordon Duff, many cats, and two rescue pups.
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