Ancient Planktivore Had Net-Like Facial Appendages

Scientists have identified a new species called the planktivore that captured tiny organisms with its facial appendages and may be a precursor to today's whales.

The Tamisiocaris borealis was first reported by paleontologists in 2010 based on one unearthed "great appendage," and later findings have revealed more specimens that are even more well-preserved, according to National Geographic.

Named by paleontologists Allison Daley and John Peel, the first discovered Tamisiocaris borealis appendage was found in a rock in North Greenland that is believed to be 520 million years old.

The creature's appendages at first seemed to be spikes for spearing prey on the ocean floor, but when scientists took a closer look, they realized the appendages had "long and fine auxiliary spines" that could sweep up food like a net.

"I remember writing on the package with the fossil, 'Great Appendage!!!!'," said paleontologist Jakob Vinther, lead author of the study recently published in the journal Nature, as quoted by National Geographic.

The planktivore is believed to be part of the anomalocaridid family, arthropod relatives that glided through water with "segmented wings" and captured food with facial appendages that were placed next to their small, round mouths.

The newer discoveries led researchers to believe that Tamisiocaris borealis fed on plankton rather than small prey.

"The fine bristles, which I could see even in the field immediately," Vinther described, "made me think that this is a filter feeder and I quickly started thinking about the evolution of baleen whales and whale sharks."

Scientists aren't certain how the creature brought the food to its mouth since the facial appendages to capture plankton weren't directly connected, but they have a theory.

"We could see that upon contraction," said Vinther, as quoted by National Geographic, "the appendage would curl up and form a basket, which would concentrate the food particles and in the process of contraction the basket of goodies would be adjacent to the mouth."

Once the food was brought closer, Vinther hypothesizes that the planktivore's suction-like mouth could suck it in.

The newly discovered species is believed to have lived in the Early Cambrian era as part of the Cambrian explosion, when a plethora of new creatures appeared.