Koko News | Science | 23 May 2024

Ancient Worm Fossil Shows How It Caught Prey

HelloandwelcomebacktoKokomonsterNews. I'mKoko, bringingyoucoolnewsfromallaroundouramazingworld.

您好，歡迎回到 Kokomonster 新聞。我是KOKO，為您帶來來自我們這個神奇世界各地的好消息。

AnancientwormfossilfoundinHerefordshireprovidesinsightintohowitcaughtpreyhundredsofmillionsofyearsago.

在赫里福德郡發現的一塊古老蠕蟲化石讓我們了解了億萬年前它是如何捕捉獵物的。

Theworm, calledRadnorscolexlatus, wasacarnivorouspredatorthatlivedintheseaflooraround425 million yearsago.

這種蠕蟲被稱為Radnorscolex latus，是一種肉食性捕食者，生活在大約 4.25 億年前的海底。

ItsfossilwasdiscoveredinanoldquarryneartheWelshborder.

它的化石是在威爾斯邊境附近的古老採石場發現的。

Scientistsusedadvancedimagingtechniquestostudythefossil, revealingrowsofsharpteethandhooksontheworm'shead.

科學家利用先進的成像技術研究了這塊化石，發現了蠕蟲頭部的一排鋒利的牙齒和鉤子。

Thesefeaturesallowedittoanchoritselftothegroundanddragitsbodyforwardtomoveinsearchoffood.

這些特徵使其能夠將自己固定在地面上並拖著身體向前移動以尋找食物。

Despitebeingapredator, thewormwasrelativelysmall, growingtoonlyaround8cminsize.

儘管是捕食者，但這種蠕蟲相對較小，尺寸僅約 8 公分。

AnalysissuggestedthatRadnorscolexhadaretractablethroatthatcouldextendontotheseabedtocaptureitsprey.

分析表明，Radnorscolex有一個可伸縮的喉嚨，可以延伸到海底捕獲獵物。

Researchersbelievethatthewormwasnotselectiveinitsfeedinghabits, simplyshovingitsthroatintothemudtograbwhateveritcouldfind.

研究人員認為，這種蠕蟲的進食習慣沒有選擇性，只是將喉嚨伸進泥巴裡，抓住它能找到的任何東西。

ThefossilremainsofRadnorscolexwereinitiallydiscoveredacenturyago, butrecenttechnologicaladvancementshaveallowedforamoredetailedstudyofthecreature.

Radnorscolex 的化石遺骸最初是在一個世紀前發現的，但最近的技術進步使得人們能夠對這種生物進行更詳細的研究。

ArecentstudypublishedinthejournalPapersinPalaeontologyrevealedthatRadnorscolexbelongedtoagroupofextinctworm-likeanimalsknownasPalaeoscolecids.

最近發表在《古生物學論文》雜誌上的一項研究表明，Radnorscolex 屬於一組已滅絕的蠕蟲狀動物，稱為古結腸動物。

Thesecreatureswerewipedoutaround400 million yearsagoduetodrasticclimateandsea-levelchanges.

由於劇烈的氣候和海平面變化，這些生物在大約 4 億年前被消滅。

I'mKoko, sayinggoodbyeandstaycurious. Tuneinnexttimeformorefunnewsandcoolwords. Seeyouthen.

我是Koko，告別並保持好奇心。下次收聽更多有趣的新聞和酷炫的字眼。回頭見。

Hello and welcome back to Kokomonster News. I'm Koko, bringing you cool news from all around our amazing world.

An ancient worm fossil found in Herefordshire provides insight into how it caught prey hundreds of millions of years ago.

The worm, called Radnorscolex latus, was a carnivorous predator that lived in the sea floor around 425 million years ago.

Its fossil was discovered in an old quarry near the Welsh border.

Scientists used advanced imaging techniques to study the fossil, revealing rows of sharp teeth and hooks on the worm's head.

These features allowed it to anchor itself to the ground and drag its body forward to move in search of food.

Despite being a predator, the worm was relatively small, growing to only around 8cm in size.

Analysis suggested that Radnorscolex had a retractable throat that could extend onto the seabed to capture its prey.

Researchers believe that the worm was not selective in its feeding habits, simply shoving its throat into the mud to grab whatever it could find.

The fossil remains of Radnorscolex were initially discovered a century ago, but recent technological advancements have allowed for a more detailed study of the creature.

A recent study published in the journal Papers in Palaeontology revealed that Radnorscolex belonged to a group of extinct worm-like animals known as Palaeoscolecids.

These creatures were wiped out around 400 million years ago due to drastic climate and sea-level changes.

I'm Koko, saying goodbye and stay curious. Tune in next time for more fun news and cool words. See you then.