Scientists have discovered an exceptional fossil of a 155 million-year-old creature known as Ophiactis hex. The creature was a starfish-like organism that had six arms and the unique ability to clone itself through a process called clonal fragmentation. This is the only known specimen of the new species of brittle star, which was named after a magical supercomputer in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels.
The fossil was found in 2018 in Germany in a limestone deposit that once housed a deep lagoon filled with coral meadows and sponge beds. Researchers believe that this discovery sheds light on the evolution and geological history of clonal fragmentation, which is not well understood by the scientific community. The ability of this organism to produce genetically identical offspring by breaking off parts of its own body and re-growing them is an intriguing adaptation, but it is exceedingly rare.
The 155 million-year-old fossil is remarkably well-preserved, with all hook-shaped arm spines still visible. Dr. Ben Thuy, a palaeontologist at Luxembourg’s Musee national d’histoire naturelle, noted that cases of individuals with regenerating bodies are relatively common, but cases where the body has been divided into two halves are extremely rare. This discovery opens up new avenues of research and understanding in the field of evolutionary biology and paleontology, providing valuable insights into the ancient history of life on Earth.
In conclusion, the discovery of this remarkable fossil sheds light on our understanding of life’s evolutionary journey and provides us with new insights into how organisms adapt to their environment over time.
