Researchers have discovered fossils of a marine creature named Shishania aculeata in southern China, dating back approximately 514 million years, which provides new insights into early mollusk evolution.

This newly identified species, which branched off before modern mollusks evolved, offers crucial information about the ancestry of mollusks.

The fossils were unearthed by doctoral student Guangxu Zhang during a road construction project in Yunnan Province, where they were initially misidentified due to their unusual appearance.

Zhang compared the fossils to a plastic bag before recognizing their significance, revealing a flat, slug-like body covered in hollow, cone-shaped spines made of chitin.

The well-preserved specimens showcased soft body parts, including a muscular foot, which indicates that Shishania likely moved along the seafloor similar to modern slugs.

Dr. Luke Parry from the University of Oxford emphasized that the spiny exterior of Shishania predates the development of shells in mollusks, enhancing our understanding of their evolutionary history.

Published in the journal Science, the findings highlight a very early stage in molluscan evolution, showcasing the primitive characteristics of these ancient creatures.

This discovery adds vital information to the understanding of molluscan evolution and the ecological adaptations of early mollusks during the Cambrian Explosion.

Shishania likely fed on algae and organic matter in shallow marine environments, further illustrating its ecological role in its habitat.

The research suggests that the spiny structures in modern mollusks evolved from similar organic forms found in Shishania, indicating a shared evolutionary pathway.

Experts believe that the discovery of Shishania aculeata could clarify the evolutionary timeline of mollusks, which have a diverse range of forms but limited early fossil records.