Evolutionary Link: Ancient Worms Shed Light on Tardigrade Origins
Researchers have studied the ancestors of tardigrades, known for their resilience, to understand how these microscopic invertebrates evolved. The team examined lobopodians, extinct soft-bodied worms from the Cambrian Period, and modern tardigrades to identify inherited features. They found a close relationship between tardigrades and luolishaniid lobopodians, with tardigrades having shorter legs and fewer trunk segments. The loss of developmental genes likely contributed to these differences. The study sheds light on the evolutionary history of tardigrades, but further research is needed to fully understand their unique characteristics.