Ancient 'Giant Predator Worms' Unearthed in Greenland Date Back Half a Billion Years

Scientists have discovered fossils of a large marine worm species, named Timorebestia koprii, from the early Cambrian period in northern Greenland. These "terror beasts" were top predators of their time, growing up to 12 inches long with a giant jaw, fins, and antennae. The well-preserved fossils allowed researchers to study their digestive systems and even identify their prey, mainly the marine arthropod Isoxys. The study, published in Science Advances, also found that these ancient worms are distant relatives of modern-day arrow worms, providing insight into the evolution of marine predators.