Scientists have uncovered a new species of ancient predator, nicknamed the “sea moth,” which swam in Earth’s oceans 506 million years ago. The discovery was made using over five dozen fossils found in the Burgess Shale, a fossil bed in British Columbia, Canada.
The creature, called Mosura fentoni, is an early offshoot of the arthropod evolutionary tree and belongs to a group called radiodonts. It had a unique body region with 16 segments that included gills at its rear, similar to modern radiodont relatives like horseshoe crabs, woodlice, and insects.
Mosura’s most distinctive feature is its third eye in the middle of its head, which was larger and more conspicuous than those found in modern insects and crustaceans. The creature also had jointed claws similar to those of modern insects and crustaceans, but unlike them, it had a mouth shaped like a pencil sharpener with rows of serrated plates.
The fossils were discovered by Charles Walcott early in the 20th century, but no research about Mosura was ever published. The new study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, sheds light on the evolution of radiodonts and their adaptations to their environment.
According to lead study author Dr. Joe Moysiuk, the discovery highlights the diversity of ancient marine ecosystems and provides unique insights into life during the Cambrian Period.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/16/science/ancient-three-eyed-predator-sea-moth