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Ancient Fossil Challenges Views on Arthropod Complexity

9/2/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A 520-million-year-old arthropod larva fossil was found in China, preserving soft tissue, brain, and circulatory system.
The fossil reveals advanced features, challenging prior beliefs about early arthropod complexity.
This discovery enhances understanding of the evolutionary divergence between mandibulates and chelicerates.
The findings were published in *Nature Communications*.

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Story summary

A 520-million-year-old arthropod larva fossil was found in China, preserving soft tissue, brain, and circulatory system.
The fossil reveals advanced features, challenging prior beliefs about early arthropod complexity.
This discovery enhances understanding of the evolutionary divergence between mandibulates and chelicerates.
The findings were published in *Nature Communications*.