Fossil of 425 Million Year Old Ostracod Crustacean Found
Posted on December 12, 2012
Researchers from the universities of Leicester, Oxford, Imperial and Yale have announced the discovery of a well preserved fossil of a 425 million year old ostracod crustacean. The species is new to science. The findings were reported here in the journal, Proceedings of The Royal Society B.
The fossil was found in 425 million year old rocks in Herefordshire, Welsh Borderland. The ancient creature was 10 millimeters long and lived during the Silurian period. The shell and the soft parts of the animal were both preserved because the area the ostracods were living in was preserved by a fall of volcanic ash.
Professor David Siveter, of the University of Leicester Department of Geology, said in a release, "The two ostracod specimens discovered represent a genus and species new to science, named Pauline avibella. The genus is named in honour of a special person and avibella means 'beautiful bird', so-named because of the fancied resemblance of a prominent feature of the shell to the wing of a bird."
