Ancient Tunicate Fossil Unveils Astonishing Secrets of Vertebrate Origins

Scientists have discovered the first-ever tunicate fossil with preserved soft tissues, dating back 500 million years. Named Megasiphon thylakos, this remarkable find sheds light on the origins of tunicates and reveals that their modern body plan was already established shortly after the Cambrian Explosion. The fossil shares similarities with modern tunicates in terms of musculature and coloration, pushing back the origin of ascidiaceans by 50 million years. The discovery was made in the Marjum Formation in Utah, and researchers are hopeful for more exciting finds in the future.