Ancient filter-feeding giants hint at the evolution of today’s insects

Add to list

In my list

Reconstruction of the giant filter-feeding anomalocaridid Aegirocassis benmoulae from the Early Ordovician (ca 480 million years old) of Morocco. Aegirocassis reached a length in excess of 2 m, making it one of the biggest arthropods to have ever lived, and foreshadows the appearance much later of giant filter-feeding sharks and whales. (Marianne Collins, ArtofFact)

A closer look at an ancient sea beast is helping scientists connect the dots of the genetic lineage that led to today's spiders, insects, and shrimp. The 480-million-year-old Aegirocassis benmoulae, which was first reported in 2011 but is described in further detail in Wednesday's Nature, was one of the world's earliest arthropods. Today, that group is the most species-rich and diverse onDemetri Blanas MD, MPH, is a medical resident in the Institute For Family Health Harlem Residency in Family Medicine program. He brings to ASC’s board expertise in community-based health programming and research and has published and obtained funding for HIV, hepatitis B, and malaria programs and research in Harlem and Senegal. He received a medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also obtained a Masters in Public Health degree, and obtained a Bachelor’s of the Arts at Columbia University majoring in Comparative Literature and Environmental Biology. He has also completed a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow, and is a National Health Service Corps Scholar.