Ancient animal history is extremely difficult to reconstruct, for a number of reasons. Some of the earliest creatures in existence were soft-bodied and microscopic, leaving behind very little evidence ...
The diversity of sponges and their spicules. Sponges were the first reef builders and maintain a fundamental role in modern marine ecosystems. Sponges are among earth’s most ancient animals, but ...
Afossil uncovered along the Yangtze River in China is forcing scientists to rethink not just the origins of sponges but also the way they search for the earliest traces of animal life. For decades, a ...