Restoration of ear-shaped fantasia (painted by Huo Xiuquan, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
The Cambrian explosion research team at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences recently discovered a strange insect about 500 million years ago in Weifang, Shandong Province, which has an ancient insect whose head is shaped like a pair of rabbit ears, and scientists have named it "ear-shaped fantasia".
Sun Zhixin, a "post-90s" master's student at the Institute of Southern Antiquity of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who participated in the research, said that the "rabbit ear worm" named "Fantasia" 500 million years ago is on the one hand because this bug looks too strange, if it is not seen with his own eyes, it is really unimaginable, on the other hand, he also wants to use research to pay tribute to Jay Chou's classic album.
"This is the romance of science students." Sun Zhixin said.
Photograph of ear-shaped fantasia specimen (Courtesy of Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
The ear-shaped Fantasia insect found this time is about 4 centimeters long and has a strange appearance. Its head is narrow and long, nearly half the length of its body. The front of the skull extends forward on both sides and has a pronounced notch in the middle, which gives it the shape of the skull, especially like a pair of rabbit ears.
"This is the first time we've seen such a strange-looking insect." They grow such strange heads, perhaps to confuse predators, or out of predation. Zhao Fangchen, a researcher at the Institute of Ancient Studies of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who led the study, said.
According to reports, the ear-shaped Fantasia is a type of ancient arthropod trilobite. In the Cambrian period 500 million years ago, the trilobite was the deserved "overlord of the sea". Their bodies are covered with sturdy carapace, resembling samurai in armor. From its appearance 520 million years ago to its extinction 250 million years ago, trilobites have survived on the earth for about 270 million years, which shows the tenacity of its vitality.
Source: Xinhua News Agency