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This species, Ophiactis hex, was uncovered during a 2018 excavation in southern Germany. The fossil, encased in limestone, was exceptionally well-preserved, capturing the creature in a moment of regeneration.
The clonal fragmentation allowed the organism to produce genetically identical offspring by breaking off parts of its own body and re-growing them - the process is called fissiparity.
The 155-million-years old six-armed brittle star was petrified in the process of regenerating one body half, providing compelling evidence clonal fragmentation in star-shaped echinoderms
It was frozen in time as it regenerated half of its body.
It was frozen in time as it regenerated half of its body.