The 'curious' creature with no anus was demonstrated to not be related to humans. An international study team has found that a mysterious microscopic creature assumed to be the ancestor of humans actually belongs to a different family tree. The Saccorhytus is a spikey, wrinkly sack with a huge m
The “curious” creature with no anus was demonstrated to not be related to humans.
The Saccorhytus is a spikey, wrinkly sack with a huge mouth surrounded by spines and holes that were interpreted as pores for gills – a primitive feature of the deuterostome group, from which our own deep ancestors emerged. The true story of Saccorhytus’ ancestry lies in the microscopic internal and external features of this tiny fossil. By taking hundreds of X-ray images at slightly different angles, with the help of powerful computers, a detailed 3D digital model of the fossil could be reconstructed.School of Earth Sciences explained: “Fossils can be quite difficult to interpret and Saccorhytus is no exception.
The researchers believe that Saccorhytus is in fact an ecdysozoan: a group that contains arthropods and nematodes. “We considered lots of alternative groups that Saccorhytus might be related to, including the corals, anemones, and jellyfish which also have a mouth but no anus,” said Professor Philip Donoghue of the’s School of Earth Sciences, who co-led the study.