Meet Quaestio Simpsonorum: the oldest asymmetrical animal found in Australia

A discovery in Australia's Nilpena Ediacara National Park has revealed the oldest known asymmetrical animal, Quaestio simpsonorum. This creature, which lived about 555 million years ago, resembles a small marine vacuum cleaner, sliding along the ocean floor and feeding on tiny algae and bacteria. What distinguishes Quaestio is a backward question mark-shaped protrusion on its back, which marks an important milestone in the evolution of more complex life forms. Researchers have long been very interested in the Ediacara period, which spanned 635 to 541 million years ago. It predated the Cambrian explosion, a time when life on Earth diversified dramatically. The Quaestio fossils were unearthed in southern Australia, where many fossils of complex animals have been found.

According to Scott Evans, a paleobiologist at Florida State University and lead author of a study published in the journal Evolution and Improvement, this animal's unique shape provides insight into how early life evolved. “The inverted question mark shape of the animal clearly separates the left and right sides, something we haven't seen in other fossils from this era,” he explained.

Movement on the ocean floor

What's even more exciting is that Quaestio was probably able to move. Fossilized footprints found behind one of the specimens suggest that it could glide along the ocean floor, actively feeding on microorganisms. Mary Droser, a paleontologist at the University of California at Riverside and co-author of the study, highlighted the importance of this finding and stated that it offered an important insight into the evolution of life on Earth.

The asymmetric features of Quaestio simpsonorum are important for understanding how more complex organisms emerged over time. This ancient creature highlighted an important moment in evolutionary history, giving us insight into the developmental processes that shaped the diversity of life we ​​see today. As researchers continue to study these fascinating fossils, they hope to uncover even more secrets about the origins of animal life on our planet.