Scientists were able to classify the "monster Tully" age of 307 million years
The animal looks like one of the paleontologist's nightmares
An extinct animal of the species Tullimonstrum gregarium, also known as the “monster Tully”, is one of those living organisms that are difficult to systematize. In addition, it looks very strange, even if we consider that the “monster” lived 307 million years ago. The animal was fed with a claw that framed the mouth opening. And the hole was located at the end of a long "trunk." The eyes of Tully were located on both sides of the body, and were placed at the ends of an unusual elongated protuberance on the body. Actually, the head here is one with the body, it is not possible to isolate any parts of the body other than the tail. The size of the representatives of the species ranges from 8-35 cm.
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The trunk was soft, boneless. Since the discovery of the fossil in 1958, which was the remains of Tully, paleontologists have been trying to position the species on the evolutionary tree of life. And only now, when there were other representatives of this species, Tully managed to classify. As it turned out, the animal is a relatively close relative of the modern lamprey.
As it turned out, Tullimonstrum gregarium already had a chord. This prototype of the spine in Tully is very similar to that of the ancient mixin Gilpichthys greenei.
Tully Holotype
Previously, scientists had suggested that Tullimonstrum gregarium could be a worm, a clam, or even an arthropod (the strangest assumption, based on the structure of the body of Tully). But his chord puts everything in its place. Nevertheless, there are still more questions than answers.
“The strange morphology of Tullimonstrum gregarium suggests that this animal led a way of life that was very different from that of modern lampreys,” says paleobiologist James Lamsdell.
“The short body and tail also suggest that the animal was swimming, making quick movements. Unlike lampreys, it was an active predator who grabbed prey with the help of a proboscis, and scraped the soft tissues with its tongue. The eyes gave the animal a large viewing angle, allowing you to focus on the victim at the time of the seizure, ”says the scientist.
He lived Tully on the site of the current Illinois, swimming in the thicker warm water of the ocean of the Carboniferous period.
An extinct animal of the species Tullimonstrum gregarium, also known as the “monster Tully”, is one of those living organisms that are difficult to systematize. In addition, it looks very strange, even if we consider that the “monster” lived 307 million years ago. The animal was fed with a claw that framed the mouth opening. And the hole was located at the end of a long "trunk." The eyes of Tully were located on both sides of the body, and were placed at the ends of an unusual elongated protuberance on the body. Actually, the head here is one with the body, it is not possible to isolate any parts of the body other than the tail. The size of the representatives of the species ranges from 8-35 cm.
')
The trunk was soft, boneless. Since the discovery of the fossil in 1958, which was the remains of Tully, paleontologists have been trying to position the species on the evolutionary tree of life. And only now, when there were other representatives of this species, Tully managed to classify. As it turned out, the animal is a relatively close relative of the modern lamprey.
As it turned out, Tullimonstrum gregarium already had a chord. This prototype of the spine in Tully is very similar to that of the ancient mixin Gilpichthys greenei.
Tully Holotype
Previously, scientists had suggested that Tullimonstrum gregarium could be a worm, a clam, or even an arthropod (the strangest assumption, based on the structure of the body of Tully). But his chord puts everything in its place. Nevertheless, there are still more questions than answers.
“The strange morphology of Tullimonstrum gregarium suggests that this animal led a way of life that was very different from that of modern lampreys,” says paleobiologist James Lamsdell.
“The short body and tail also suggest that the animal was swimming, making quick movements. Unlike lampreys, it was an active predator who grabbed prey with the help of a proboscis, and scraped the soft tissues with its tongue. The eyes gave the animal a large viewing angle, allowing you to focus on the victim at the time of the seizure, ”says the scientist.
He lived Tully on the site of the current Illinois, swimming in the thicker warm water of the ocean of the Carboniferous period.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/391877/
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