About 500 million years ago, the Grand Canyon was a vast sea inhabited by a newly discovered species of penis worm, named Kraytdraco spectatus. This creature had a retractable throat lined with teeth that enabled it to feed on microorganisms and algae. The specimen measured 15 to 20 centimeters long, larger than current species which are only 2 to 3 millimeters. Other fossils found during the same expedition date back to before the Cambrian period, which marks the onset of complex animal life.
The newly discovered penis worm, named Kraytdraco spectatus, had a retractable throat lined with rings of teeth for feeding on microorganisms and algae.
This ancient specimen, measuring 15 to 20 centimeters long, is significantly larger than modern penis worms, which now measure only 2 to 3 millimeters.
Researchers hypothesize that the worm used a two-stage feeding process, combining strong sharp teeth for picking up food and delicate feathered ones for filtering and chewing.
Other fossils found during the same expedition date back 500 million years, indicating they predate the Cambrian period, marking the beginning of complex animal life.
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