Is the 8m tall limbless creature a new form of life?

(NLDO) - After many years of confusing science, Prototaxites were identified as a separate form, outside of the known tree of life on Earth.

Discovered more than 160 years ago, the giant fossil structures left by a creature called Prototaxites have eluded classification. Now, a team led by the University of Edinburgh (UK) has shown that they may be a separate life form.

Giant monster Prototaxites may be a newly identified life form that disappeared hundreds of millions of years ago - Photo: GIZMODO

According to Science Alert, Prototaxites looks like a strange tower, up to 8 meters high, without limbs or branches, not an animal, plant or any known form of life.

They are thought to have originated in the late Silurian period, about 420 million years ago.

Some studies earlier this century suggested that these mysterious giants might be a "monster" fungus.

That conclusion was reinforced in 2017, by an analysis involving a fossil fragment believed to be from the periphery of a smaller Prototaxites species called P. taiti.

However, this piece is still uncertain.

Now, new research led by the University of Edinburgh based on three P. taiti fragments argues that there is not enough evidence to conclude that Prototaxites is a fungus.

Through microscopic examination of the anatomy and chemical analysis of the tubular structures, the team systematically eliminated any possible relationships between this ancient creature and modern fungi, as well as other species.

For example, their anatomy shows they are not fungi, their chemical composition rules out algae, while their cell walls rule out being a strange animal.

In other words, is there any modern organism that is a descendant of Prototaxites.

"We consider it best to consider it a member of a previously undescribed, completely extinct group of eukaryotes," the authors said.

They argue that the presence of Prototaxites, a previously unidentified life form on Earth, is a reminder that evolution is a constant experiment, fraught with more failures than we ever realized.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/sinh-vat-khong-chan-tay-cao-8-m-la-mot-dang-su-song-moi-196250329080620379.htm