A team of paleontologists has made a groundbreaking discovery about the anatomy of Mosura fentoni, a 2.5-inch long creature from the Burgess Shale in Canada. Initially known as “sea moths” due to their flaps that resemble wings, these creatures were thought to be alien-like with their additional eye. However, a study published in Royal Society Open Science reveals that Mosura’s anatomy is more similar to modern animals than previously thought.
Researchers analyzed 60 specimens of Mosura found in Marble Canyon, a Burgess Shale outcrop, and discovered that the creature’s body was divided into 26 segments. This unique feature is unlike other radiodonts, which had relatively simple body plans. The researchers believe that this division allowed Mosura to optimize its intake of oxygen as an active predator.
The team also found that Mosura possessed a highly segmented trunk at the back of its body brimming with gills, similar to horseshoe crabs and woodlice. This region resembles the breathing structures used by these modern animals. The researchers propose that Mosura chased tiny prey through open water and darted away from larger contemporaries.
Instead of naming the animal after a cartoon fish, the team drew inspiration from Mothra, Godzilla’s winged nemesis, to name Mosura fentoni. While some features of the creature are still up for debate, the body segments reveal a clear connection with living arthropods.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/science/three-eyed-fossil-mosura-fentoni.html