Ancient Sea Worm Unearthed in Northern Utah
A University of Kansas paleontologist discovered a 500-million-year-old fossil of an ancient sea worm in northern Utah. The researcher named the worm Shaihuludia shurikeni, inspired by the indigenous name for worms in Frank Herbert's "Dune" novels. The fossil, a previously unknown annelid species, is about 7-8 centimeters long and has blade-like bristles. The findings were published in the Historical Biology journal and the specimen is now part of the university's paleontological collection.