Did poop enable the evolution of complex animals?
The Cambrian explosion may have been fueled by poop. The first animals on Earth emerged about 600 million years ago, and 60 million years later, those simple early animals evolved into wildly different directions, branching out into a diverse menagerie of complicated new forms and conquering new ecological niches.
Reported by 1 outlet — Ars Technica. See all sources ↓
The Cambrian explosion may have been fueled by poop. The first animals on Earth emerged about 600 million years ago, and 60 million years later, those simple early animals evolved into wildly different directions, branching out into a diverse menagerie of complicated new forms and conquering new ecological niches. Known as the Cambrian Explosion, this flurry of rapid evolution produced most of the animal phyla and ecosystems we see around us today. And it may have taken off because some of those early animals evolved a bizarre new ability: pooping.
Read the full report at Ars Technica ↗
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- What's the story?
- The Cambrian explosion may have been fueled by poop. The first animals on Earth emerged about 600 million years ago, and 60 million years later, those simple early animals evolved into wildly different directions, branching out into a diverse menagerie of complicated new forms and conquering new ecological niches.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 7.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 4m ago.
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Did poop enable the evolution of complex animals?
Sources1TypeCoverageArs Technica