Discovery of ancient arthropod larva sheds light on brain evolution

Scientists at Durham University have made a new discovery that provides valuable information about the evolution of arthropods. As reported by "Live Science," this larva, the size of a grain of sand, has been remarkably well preserved, which helps explain how complex brains in arthropods developed.

A discovery from half a billion years ago

Professor Martin Smith from Durham University, the study's principal author, emphasises how difficult it is to find fossilised larvae due to their delicate structure. "When I used to daydream about the one fossil I'd most like to discover, I'd always be thinking of an arthropod larva because developmental data are just so central to understanding their evolution," Smith said, emphasising the find's significance.

The fossil was found in the Yu'anshan rock formation in Yunnan Province, China, and examined using X-ray radiation, which allowed for the creation of three-dimensional images of the larva's internal structures.

"I already knew that this simple worm-like fossil was something special, but when I saw the amazing structures preserved under its skin, my jaw just dropped – how could these intricate features have avoided decay and still be here to see half a billion years later?" said the principal author of the study.

This finding has allowed scientists to take a new look at the anatomy of early arthropods. The brains of these creatures were more advanced than previously thought, which enabled them to develop a variety of life forms, including more developed predators.

Smith explained that when the brains of arthropods developed, they began to exhibit much more complex behaviours and even more intricate morphology. This, in turn, contributed to their rapid increase in diversity, which continues to this day.