A worm-like creature preserved in ancient rocks has been identified as the oldest known relative of insects, spiders and crustaceans.
Ecdymozoans are a group of invertebrates that have a tough outer skin, or epidermis, that they shed as they grow. This is clearly a successful evolutionary strategy, as this group now includes millions of species. “Some estimates suggest that about half of all known animal species are ecdysizoans,” said Ian Hughes of Harvard University. All arthropods, including insects and spiders, belong to this group, as well as…
(Tag translation) Evolution