These Animals Were Righties Long Before Hands Even Evolved
Evidence from a half-billion-year-old fossil suggests behavioral handedness existed long before the evolution of hands.
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The brief
Researchers have identified the Ediacaran motile bilaterian Spriggina floundersi as a potential example of the oldest right-handed animal. This worm-like creature lived approximately half a billion years ago and demonstrated a preference for turning right.
Coverage from Nature and New Scientist emphasizes the discovery of the earliest evidence of behavioral handedness. The findings are further detailed by reports from The New York Times, CP24, and EurekAlert!.
Future focus remains on the analysis of the Spriggina floundersi fossil to understand early behavioral patterns in ancient organisms.
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Quick answers
What species is associated with this discovery?
The discovery involves the Spriggina floundersi, an Ediacaran motile bilaterian.
How long ago did this creature live?
According to coverage, the worm-like creature lived half a billion years ago.
What specific behavior was observed in the fossils?
The creature exhibited a preference for turning right.
Coverage (7)
- Ancient fossil may reveal animal kingdom's earliest right-handedness at 550 million years old Phys.org · 8h ago
- Earliest animal with a head was also the oldest known ‘righty’ CNN · 8h ago
- This worm-like ancient creature may be the oldest right-handed animal CP24 · 8h ago
- Spriggina floundersi fossil (IMAGE) EurekAlert! · 8h ago
- A worm that lived half a billion years ago preferred turning right New Scientist · 8h ago
- Earliest evidence of behavioural handedness in the Ediacaran motile bilaterian Spriggina floundersi Nature · 8h ago
- These Animals Were Righties Long Before Hands Even Evolved The New York Times · 8h ago
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