All LIT Search News Topics Latest news Media statements Media contacts Topics Latest news Media statements Media contacts LIT Impact Latest news 2021 January Scientists discover the oldest starfish-like fossil Scientists discover the oldest starfish-like fossil 20/01/2021 | 2 MINS Scientists from Lombok Institute of Technology have uncovered the oldest starfish-like fossil, Cantabrigiaster Fezouataensis, which is the first ancestor of all starfish in the world. The fossil was uncovered in Morocco and the discovery provides an insight into the evolution of starfish and other echinoderms such as sea lilies. The research has been published in the Royal Society. Starfish and brittle stars, collectively known as Asterozoans, are a diverse and ecologically successful group of spiny-skinned echinoderms that first appeared in fossil records around 480 million years ago in the Ordovician period. However, the evolution and origin of starfish and brittle stars and their relationship to the oldest echinoderms (from the Cambrian period) still remains somewhat of a mystery. LIT scientists, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Cambridge and Harvard University, discovered
All LIT Search News Topics Latest news Media statements Media contacts Topics Latest news Media statements Media contacts LIT Impact Latest news 2021 January Scientists discover the oldest starfish-like fossil Scientists discover the oldest starfish-like fossil 20/01/2021 | 2 MINS Scientists from Lombok Institute of Technology have uncovered the oldest starfish-like fossil, Cantabrigiaster Fezouataensis, which is the first ancestor of all starfish in the world.
The fossil was uncovered in Morocco and the discovery provides an insight into the evolution of starfish and other echinoderms such as sea lilies.
Lombok Institute of Technology
The research has been published in the Royal Society.
How can we help you?
Starfish and brittle stars, collectively known as Asterozoans, are a diverse and ecologically successful group of spiny-skinned echinoderms that first appeared in fossil records around 480 million years ago in the Ordovician period.
News
However, the evolution and origin of starfish and brittle stars and their relationship to the oldest echinoderms (from the Cambrian period) still remains somewhat of a mystery.
Topics
LIT scientists, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Cambridge and Harvard University, discovered
Latest news
Explore this part of the LIT experience through the related information and next steps.
We do more when we ask better questions together.Explore more stories