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2w ago

Newly Identified 506-Million-Year-Old Predator Reveals Evolutionary Insights

Mosura fentoni, a three-eyed radiodont from Canada’s Burgess Shale, showcases unique gilled segments and soft-tissue preservation, offering a rare glimpse into early arthropod evolution.

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A fossil of Mosura fentoni, named after Mothra. Image: Royal Ontario Museum
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Overview

  • Mosura fentoni, formally described in Royal Society Open Science on May 13, 2025, is a 506-million-year-old radiodont predator discovered in Canada’s Burgess Shale.
  • The species features three eyes, spiny claws, a tooth-lined circular mouth, and broad swimming flaps, distinguishing it as a member of the extinct radiodont lineage.
  • A unique posterior region with 16 gilled segments highlights evolutionary convergence with modern arthropods like insects and horseshoe crabs.
  • Exceptional fossil preservation reveals soft-tissue details, including elements of the nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems, providing rare insights into Cambrian anatomy.
  • Researchers emphasize the critical role of museum collections, with 61 Mosura fossils collected between 1975 and 2022, slated for public exhibition later this year.