These Animals Were Righties Long Before Hands Even Evolved
Evidence from a half-billion-year-old fossil suggests behavioral handedness existed long before the evolution of hands.
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The brief
Researchers have identified the Ediacaran motile bilaterian Spriggina floundersi as a potential example of the oldest right-handed animal. This worm-like creature lived approximately half a billion years ago and demonstrated a preference for turning right.
Coverage from Nature and New Scientist emphasizes the discovery of the earliest evidence of behavioral handedness. The findings are further detailed by reports from The New York Times, CP24, and EurekAlert!.
Future focus remains on the analysis of the Spriggina floundersi fossil to understand early behavioral patterns in ancient organisms.
Synthesized by Archynetys from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 1h ago.
Quick answers
What species is associated with this discovery?
The discovery involves the Spriggina floundersi, an Ediacaran motile bilaterian.
How long ago did this creature live?
According to coverage, the worm-like creature lived half a billion years ago.
What specific behavior was observed in the fossils?
The creature exhibited a preference for turning right.
Coverage (8)
- Earliest animal with a head was also the oldest known ‘righty’ CNN · 10h ago
- Ancient fossil may reveal animal kingdom's earliest right-handedness at 550 million years old Phys.org · 10h ago
- Earliest animal with a head was also the oldest known ‘righty’ CNN · 10h ago
- This worm-like ancient creature may be the oldest right-handed animal CP24 · 10h ago
- Spriggina floundersi fossil (IMAGE) EurekAlert! · 10h ago
- A worm that lived half a billion years ago preferred turning right New Scientist · 10h ago
- Earliest evidence of behavioural handedness in the Ediacaran motile bilaterian Spriggina floundersi Nature · 10h ago
- These Animals Were Righties Long Before Hands Even Evolved The New York Times · 10h ago
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