Ancient 'Terror Beasts': Unearthing the Giant Carnivorous Worms That Dominated Seas 518 Million Years Ago
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CNN
Scientists have discovered fossils of large predatory worms, named Timorebestia, in North Greenland, which thrived over 500 million years ago during the early Cambrian Period, predating the first sharks. These worms, reaching nearly a foot in length, challenge previous beliefs that primitive arthropods were the apex marine predators of that time. The study, published in Science Advances, reveals that these worms were a significant part of a complex and tiered marine ecosystem, providing new insights into the evolution of early carnivorous animals and their impact on the environment.