Story perspectives

Ancient Fossils Reveal New Jellyfish Relative, Paleocanna tentaculum

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Paleontologists describe Paleocanna tentaculum, a new genus and species, from 450-million-year-old fossils found in the Upper Neuville Formation, Quebec.
The organism was a soft-bodied, tube-dwelling polyp closely related to modern jellyfish.
The fossils were preserved due to a rapid mudslide.
The fossils reveal a ring of tentacles and a visible digestive tract.
The findings challenge jellyfish-evolution assumptions and were published in the Journal of Paleontology on February 13, 2026.

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Story summary

Paleontologists describe Paleocanna tentaculum, a new genus and species, from 450-million-year-old fossils found in the Upper Neuville Formation, Quebec.
The organism was a soft-bodied, tube-dwelling polyp closely related to modern jellyfish.
The fossils were preserved due to a rapid mudslide.
The fossils reveal a ring of tentacles and a visible digestive tract.
The findings challenge jellyfish-evolution assumptions and were published in the Journal of Paleontology on February 13, 2026.