New octopus fossil found in Lebanon

Sun Mar 6, 2011

A fossil octopus which has been found in Lebanon has dramatically changed the approach of zoologists towards the origin of these creatures.

Keuppia levanter is one of several newly-discovered fossil octopus species found in Lebanon that challenge previous assumptions about the origin and age of the Octopoda, reports The Guardian.

Along with Keuppia hyperbolaris and Styletoctopus annae, this species is now the earliest unequivocal fossil for the group, adds the British daily.

Truly remarkable anatomical details were observable due to the fine-grained Cenomanian limestone in which these species were entombed more than 95 million years ago.

Octopods were previously thought to have arisen in the mid-Cretaceous era. Thanks to characters observed in these newly discovered species, scientists now think octopods appeared significantly earlier, possibly even in Jurassic era.

Back in February 2011, The Guardian reported the discovery of a new species of sharks known as Chlamydoselachus Africana, which was the first frilled shark species discovered since 1884.

The Caught off the coast of Namibia, the newly-discovered shark appears to feed on smaller sharks and squid. Its snakelike head and long, distensible jaws with multiple needle-like, inwardly directed spines on its teeth are capable of snagging prey as large as half its own body length.

The only other species of frilled shark was discovered in 1884 off the coast of Japan.

Whether this new shark is geographically widespread like its sister species has yet to be determined.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/168531.html.