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Osedax worms already existed 100 mya

Adam Khor · 2015-04-18 18:29:27

The same worms that feed on whale remains today existed in the Cretaceous as shown by traces on plesiosaur and sea turtle fossils: http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/science-osedax-worms-plesiosaurs-02706.html

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18-04-2015 7:29pm

#1

Adam Khor

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The same worms that feed on whale remains today existed in the Cretaceous as shown by traces on plesiosaur and sea turtle fossils:

http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/science-osedax-worms-plesiosaurs-02706.html

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#2 19-04-2015 11:13am
Rubecula

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One of those natural evolutionary "if it is not broken don't fixit" things.

A form that works has no need to change much.

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#3 19-04-2015 11:32am
Manach

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Rubecula wrote: »

One of those natural evolutionary "if it is not broken don't fixit" things.

Offhand, like the horseshoe crabs of the North Atlantic?

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#4 19-04-2015 11:39am
Rubecula

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Pretty much yes.

But a careful study is important. If they survive for so long with little change, can they be of help to our survival?

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#5 19-04-2015 9:19pm
Adam Khor

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...hopefully not...

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