Canadian scientists unearth "Mosura fentoni," a Cambrian marvel
Scientists from Canada have discovered a new species of extinct marine crustacean from 506 million years ago. The three-eyed predator has been named after a Japanese movie monster.
Scientists from the Royal Ontario Museum and the Manitoba Museum in Canada have announced the discovery of a new species of extinct marine crustacean that lived 506 million years ago. The fossils of this three-eyed predator date back to the Cambrian period, and the find has been described in the journal "Royal Society Open Science."
The discovery took place at the Burgess Shale fossil site, located in Canada’s Yoho National Park. It is one of the most important places in the world where Cambrian period fossils have been preserved, first discovered in 1909. The find provides valuable information about the Cambrian explosion, a rapid increase in the diversity of life forms about 540–500 million years ago.
The newly discovered species was named Mosura fentoni, after the movie monster Mothra, known from Japanese kaiju films like Godzilla. Although the crustacean measured only 2 inches, its wing-like lateral extensions facilitated swimming.
Unique characteristics of Mosura fentoni
Mosura fentoni distinguished itself with several features that set it apart from other Cambrian organisms from the order Radiodonta. The crustacean had a third eye located centrally on its head, which aided in water navigation during quick manoeuvres. The creature's body was divided into 26 thoracic segments, a record among known Radiodonta representatives.
Scientists determined that the predator had a pair of spiked arms and a round mouth opening surrounded by teeth. With its arms, it could grasp and hold prey, moving it towards the mouth opening. Mosura fentoni also had an open circulatory system, where blood mixed with lymph to form haemolymph that was released into body cavities, delivering nutrients and oxygen.
Palaeontologist Dr. Joseph Moysiuk, a co-author of the discovery, emphasized that Mosura fentoni represents a small yet highly specialized hunting organism—well adapted for rapid swimming, locating mobile prey, and capturing it efficiently.
This discovery is not only a new link in the evolution of the order Radiodonta but also an important reference point for understanding the diversity of body segmentation in early arthropods. Dr Jean-Bernard Caron, co-author of the work, noted that the discovery could change views on the place of the extinct order of crustaceans in the evolutionary history of marine organisms.
