160 million year old parasitic fossil

An international research team led by the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology (NIGPAS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has discovered a 160-million-year-old parasitic fossil in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of northern China.

The newly identified fossil is Juracanthocephalus, belonging to the Acanthocephala family - a group of parasitic organisms that live inside the host's body, present in both marine and terrestrial environments.

Measuring about 1-2cm in length, Juracanthocephalus has an elongated body, divided into three distinct parts: proboscis, neck and trunk. The retractable proboscis is covered with curved and stiff hooks that act as anchors, allowing the organism to firmly attach to the host's intestinal wall. The discovery not only contributes to clarifying an unsolved chapter in the history of biological evolution, but also opens up a new approach to studying the complex relationship between parasites and hosts, which has a profound impact on ecological balance.

SOUTH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hoa-thach-sinh-vat-ky-sinh-co-nien-dai-160-trieu-nam-post790386.html