Paleontologists make 'one in a million' discovery of soft tissue preserved in 450-million-year-old fossil
A 450‑million‑year‑old sea creature fossil with intact soft tissue is being hailed as a ‘one in a million’ find.
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The brief
Paleontologists have uncovered soft tissue in a fossil dated to about 450 million years ago, a discovery described as “one in a million.” Coverage from IFLScience, Gizmodo, Phys.org and others stresses the rarity of soft‑tissue preservation at this age and notes the specimen is a sea creature, identified as Dendrocrinus simcoensis, which predates dinosaurs by roughly 200 million years. La Brújula Verde highlights the exceptional preservation.
The reports do not yet detail further analysis, so follow‑up studies on the tissue composition and its implications for early marine life are expected.
Synthesized by PULSE from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 46d ago.
Quick answers
What species does the fossil belong to?
The fossil is identified as Dendrocrinus simcoensis.
How old is the fossil?
It is dated to roughly 450 million years ago.
Why is the find described as “one in a million”?
Because soft tissue preservation in fossils of this age is extremely rare, as noted by multiple outlets.
Coverage (5)
- Astonishing 450-Million-Year-Old Fossil Preserving Soft Tissue Is "One In A Million" IFLScience · 48d ago
- Dendrocrinus simcoensis EurekAlert! · 48d ago
- Astonishingly Well-Preserved Soft Tissues Discovered in a Fossil 200 Million Years Older Than Dinosaurs La Brújula Verde · 48d ago
- Scientists Find Super-Rare Soft Tissue Fossil From 450-Million-Year-Old Sea Creature Gizmodo · 48d ago
- Paleontologists make 'one in a million' discovery of soft tissue preserved in 450-million-year-old fossil Phys.org · 48d ago
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