The Hidden Depths of Animal Evolution In the dark, icy depths of the ocean, a group of gelatinous creatures has been quietly rewriting our understanding of animal evolution.
Recent research suggests that ctenophores – commonly known as comb jellies – may be the true ancestors of all animals. This challenges the long held assumption that sponges were the earliest branching lineage.
Ctenophores possess both muscles and neurons, and exhibit evidence of a simple nervous system. This raises fundamental questions about how such complexity emerged so early in evolution.