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According to a new study, the fossil of a 480-million-year-old creature was the ancestor and “missing link” of all starfish. The newly discovered species, which has been named Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis, was originally unearthed 17 years ago in the Moroccan desert but it took until now for experts to full understand and study its evolutionary history. While Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis was shaped like a star, it was missing several important features that other starfish have, such as long thin arms and armor plates, which is why the researchers stated that it was an ancient ancestor...

The fossil species, discovered in the Anti-Atlas mountain range in Morocco, has an intricate design with feathery arms akin to a lacework.

This 480 million-year-old creature is the ancestor of all starfish Patrick Pester © Provided by Live Science An artist reconstruction of the starfish ancestor named Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis A strange little fossil may represent the ancestor of all starfish-like animals on the planet, according to a new study.  The 480 million-year-old fossil was unearthed in the Moroccan desert more than 17 years ago, but its identity and evolutionary history remained mysteries until now. Scientists have now formally described the specimen in new research published Wednesday (Jan. 20)...

Credit: Collections of the Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered a fossil of the earliest starfish-like animal, which helps us understand the origins of the nimble-armed creature. The prototype starfish, which has features in common with both sea lilies and modern-day starfish, is a missing link for scientists trying to piece together its early evolutionary history. The exceptionally preserved fossil, named Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis, was discovered in Morroco's Anti-Atlas mountain range. Its intricate design - with feathery arms a...

Fossil is ‘missing link’ between modern starfish and their ancestors – study A fossil of the earliest starfish-like animal, called Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis, was discovered in Morocco (Yale University/PA) A 480-million-year-old fossil found in Morocco is a “missing link” between modern-day starfish and their ancestors, a scientist has said. The fossil, discovered in the Anti-Atlas mountain range, captures the early evolutionary steps of the animal at a time in Earth’s history when life suddenly expanded, a period known as the Ordovician Biodiversification Event. The fossil spe...