Fossil spines reveal deep sea’s past

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A range of sea urchin spines from different periods of the Earth’s history
A range of sea urchin spines from different periods of the Earth’s history illustrating the diversity of shapes. Photo: 2023 Wiese et al.
Research team led by Göttingen University describe early occurrence of irregular sea urchins in the depths of the oceans

Right at the bottom of the deep sea, the first very simple forms of life on earth probably emerged a long time ago. Today, the deep sea is known for its bizarre fauna. Intensive research is being conducted into how the number of species living on the sea floor have changed in the meantime. Some theories say that the ecosystems of the deep sea have emerged again and again after multiple mass extinctions and oceanic upheavals. Today’s life in the deep sea would thus be comparatively young in the history of the Earth. But there is increasing evidence that parts of this world are much older than previously thought. ...
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