Rare Devonian Carpoid Fossil Unearthed by Researchers

Researchers have made a rare and unexpected discovery at Penn Dixie, unearthing the well-preserved remains of a carpoid fossil dating back approximately 382 million years to the Devonian Period. Carpoids are extinct echinoderms related to starfish and sea lilies, and their fossil record is spotty, making it difficult to track their evolutionary history. The newly discovered fossils belong to a branch of carpoids previously thought to have gone extinct 410 million years ago, extending their geological range by more than 25 million years. This discovery provides new insight into the evolutionary history of these enigmatic creatures.