Ancient Helmet-Wearing Wormy Creature Was Covered in ‘Cocktail Sticks’

By Laura Geggel

About 515 million years ago, a tiny sea critter that was “strange beyond measure”wasn’t taking any chances about its safety: Armor covered its back and sides, a helmet-like shell protected its head and pointy spikes stuck out from its sides, researchers have found.

“The creature is like a mythical beast,” said study researcher Martin Smith, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham University in England.

The newfound beast may change scientists’ understanding of the behavior of some of these early Cambrian period animals, the researchers said.

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